Virginia leaders react to the end of Roe
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, local elected leaders vow to support efforts to protect women’s reproductive rights in Virginia.
Meanwhile, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said he will work to ban most abortions after 15 weeks. Abortions in Virginia are legal up to about 26 weeks.
Youngkin had refused to reveal his stance on abortion before he was elected, but now says, “I’m proud to be a pro-life governor.”
Democratic members of the Virginia General Assembly say they intend to block legislation to restrict abortions. Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), the president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate, said, “As chairman of the Virginia Senate Health Committee, I will never allow any bill that restricts a woman’s right to choose to emerge from our committee. Virginia will remain open for choice.”
“Today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court is disturbing and just plain wrong,” said state Sen. Dick Saslaw, who represents parts of Mason District. “We will not allow Virginia to turn back 50 years of progress of women’s reproductive rights. We will stridently defend a woman’s right to choose.”
And Del. Kaye Kory, who also represents Mason District, said Jan. 24 she is “appalled at the hypocrisy of the SCOTUS decisions — yesterday’s ruling that states cannot be trusted to act to prevent gun violence, but today ruling that states must handle the issue of women’s rights to make private health care decisions.”
“Abortion and contraception are still legal in our commonwealth,” Kory said. We must be prepared to protect Virginia from right-wing extremists.”
According to a recent poll by Change Research, 77 percent of registered voters in Virginia and 86 percent of women voters (and 97 percent of women in color) in the state agree that any decision about pregnancy should be made by women, not politicians.
Fairfax County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said, “No matter what the law in Virginia says, I will not prosecute a woman for having an abortion, or for being suspected of inducing one.”
On the federal level, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said he is “deeply disturbed” that the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. He noted he has been “engaged in efforts in the Senate to codify the basic framework of Roe v. Wade and related cases into federal law.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization “will take control over personal healthcare decisions away from individuals and give it to politicians in state legislatures across the country,” said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.).
“I am heartbroken for the generations of women who now have fewer rights than when they were born,” Warner said. Many women “ will be forced into life-threatening or prohibitively expensive circumstances to access healthcare as a result of this radical decision.”
The House of Representatives voted to codify Roe v. Wade protections in September but Senate Republicans filibustered it, noted Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) on Twitter. “Just end the filibuster and pass this. Protecting essential healthcare matters so much more than arcane procedural rules.”
“Five of the six justices who overturned Roe were appointed by presidents who lost the popular vote,” Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) tweeted.
“The Democratic senators who want to restore Roe represent 40 million more Americans than the Republican senators who fought to overturn it,” Connolly continued. “That is not the will of the people.”
13 responses to “Virginia leaders react to the end of Roe”
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Republicans will end the filibuster with whiplash speed when given the opportunity to do so. Manchin is going to let this country crumble.
How awful for the Supreme Court to make a decision based on what is written in the Constitution rather than what the currently dominant political party thinks.
First time rights have ever been taken away from the citizens of this country. This is solely about a group of people and their religious beliefs trying to make our country a religious state. This group wants us to believe they care about life but based off the actions of them and their elected leaders, they don’t. If that were the case, there wouldn’t be 400K+ children in foster care right now. There would be legislation in place to help with better family paid leave, medical care for these mothers, etc. Funny how you never see that, it’s just about making abortion illegal and not touching their guns (Uvalde wants a word with you).
You can make this about state’s rights but that’s a distraction/lie from the real goal at hand. 15+ states couldn’t wait to make it illegal (some or more with no stipulation for rape/incest).
Why is it so hard to not participate in something if you don’t like it? You don’t like abortion, don’t get one. You don’t like gay marriage, don’t marry someone from the same sex. You don’t like, LBGTQ folks, don’t befriend one then. You have choices, trying to ban things shows you have another agenda and nothing you can say will make us think differently.
We are getting closer to the Handmaid’s Tale and that is scary.
Not true that this is the first time “rights” have been taken away from U.S. citizens.
The Crimes Act of 1790 outlawed murder.
Making this about states rights is not a distraction nor is it a lie. It is the law. No mention of religion was or is made. Roe v Wade was a poorly conceived notion where the federal government overreached. As for abortion being a ‘right,’ provide an example of another constitutional right where, when exercised, ends a life. Thankfully none exist.
Making the decision to abort a life is beyond my ability to comprehend. I have only sympathy for those who decide that is the best option. The Supreme Court decision does not make it illegal, but ending 50 years of Roe v Wade gets the federal government out of the abortion business (and it’s a huge business), which is as it should be.
If abortion is what the majority of people want in a state currently banning it, then they are free to elect leaders who will write new laws. That is how it is supposed to work. Contrasting the minority of states with laws not supportive of abortion are the many states now inviting women to visit so they can have one.
Your admonishment to not participate in something you don’t like is great advice. But when the federal government supports abortion, then I’m forced to participate whether I want to or not because as a taxpayer I am compelled to help fund it.
The remainder of your writing is nonsensical spitballs generalizing all who don’t fully support your view as homophobes and bigots. Casting aspersions at people you don’t agree with sure tugs at the emotions, but is not very persuasive. Nothing you can say will make us think differently. The radical left’s ideas regarding censorship, mandates and language based on vaguely defined opinions is getting us close to 1984, and that is scary.
It may be beyond your ability to comprehend but what others do with their body is not your business (as is what you do with yours). Our tax dollars are not spent with our direction and approval, that’s just the reality of our country and it will never change unfortunately.
These states who allow abortion may be inviting them but how many of them can afford to travel there? It sure sounds easy but let’s live in reality for a minute and realize that many cannot and will have to resort to underground clinics and other, likely terrible routes.
Never said religion was part of Roe vs. Wade, I said this is all happening because of a far right group of evangelicals/religious folks who want to make this country a religious state. While she doesn’t speak for the entire Republican Party, let me quote Congresswoman Lauren Boebert the other day.
“The church is supposed to direct the government. The government is not supposed to direct the church. That is not how our Founding Fathers intended it.”
THIS is what many are concerned about. A group’s specific religious views taking over the country. It’s so much more than Roe vs. Wade but this is the start. I’m sure they would be super accommodating if Muslims or Jews tried this right? Hint, the answer is no. In somewhat of a parallel, look at the difference of how the right reacted to Colin Kaepernick and to the High School Football Coach in Washington State who wanted to kneel and pray on the football field. Tells you all you need to know.
Some of these states will have no exception for rape or incest, how can one possibly defend that? It doesn’t matter if it’s a small % of who gets an abortion, if even one person is forced to do after getting raped, what kind of person are you to not care and make them go through with it?
IF the Republican Party had actual legislation ready or at very least, were talking about how they will help these Women who will be forced to give birth, many of us would probably feel differently. They have rejected legislation that offers such things as universal Pre-K, cash payments for parents, and expanded child-care subsidies. So why should anyone believe that these folks actually care about the babies when they do NOTHING to support them post-birth? If they are doing something, please, provide evidence.
Never cast folks as Homophobes and Bigots, I said if you don’t like something, don’t participate but please, keep spinning it to support your argument.
Lastly, your very Fox News use of “Radical left” is typical and so lazy. Who is banning books and not allowing discussion of racial or sexual issues in some schools? As well as anything that may make white kids uncomfortable (even though they are historical events)? Are the Democrats doing things that I don’t agree with? Absolutely!! But the Republican party of the past has been hijacked by extremists who wants a religious state and worship a man who isn’t even a Republican. Actions show that this is the case.
As a right-wing Evangelical Christian, I can tell you with certainty that no one I know on our ‘side’ wants to turn the U.S. into a “religious state.” We love God and respect the Constitution. The Constitution is the law of the land. As much as you love to demonize us, we are not the enemy! We are your neighbors. As others have stated accurately in above posts, abortion as a matter of law is not supported by the Constitution. RBG knew Roe was on shaky ground. Many have the view that abortion is BOTH an abomination, AND that Roe was at odds with the Constitution.
Lastly, Trump and Fox News are lagging indicators of how a lot of us feel. We don’t worship Trump or trust Fox News. Trump and Fox News were late to the game on a lot of issues we’ve been passionate about for years if not decades. I’ve been calling left-wing people Marxists for 20 years. Fox just started saying this around 2020 when they correctly pointed out that BLM was rooted by Marxists ideals – to use their own words.
In the choice between Trump or Hillary, I picked Trump by a landslide. Because I liked Trump more than Hillary doesn’t mean I worship Trump. Trump had and has many issues. But he was much better than the alternative. Because I have this opinion, does not make me the boogey woman.
May, you and Philomena do an excellent job of summing up all that is wrong with this country. No sense of history, no common-sense, no respect for people’s rights. Absolutely no respect for women’s rights. I’m curious if you or your parents ever served for America. I won’t try to shame you, you’ve done that to yourself.
You are cowards, lurking in the shadows of fascism, hiding behind your own sense of self-worth or your religion. You are about as un-American as they come.
Yours truly,
A Scandinavian Lutheran Veteran.
A 100% ad hominem attack not responding to anything that either of them said.
-A Scandinavian former Lutheran turned non-denominational Christian, and veteran who kicked doors for years and lost close friends. Son of a Vietnam veteran who burned VC out of spider holes with an ODA and operated in Cambodia and Laos. Grandson of Pacific theater Naval Officer, and Army infantryman who fought from North Africa to Berlin.
Tell me about your service?
How is imposing religious beliefs on others NOT creating a religious state?
With respect, one can have the opinion that abortion is wrong without being religious. Count me as one of them.
If you support the dissolution of human rights you are supporting fascism. “First they came for…”
‘React’ is right! But Del. Kaye Kory and Con. Gerry Connolly are hardly leaders of the State of Virginia. They are mere local leaders. And you forgot to mention Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears and your AG, Jason Miyares! How come you didn’t solicit their ‘reactions?’