Again, in no particular order...I strongly disagree with today's Supreme Court ruling, which dramatically departs from previous precedents safeguarding the health of pregnant women. As Justice Ginsburg emphasized in her dissenting opinion, this ruling signals an alarming willingness on the part of the conservative majority to disregard its prior rulings respecting a woman's medical concerns and the very personal decisions between a doctor and patient. I am extremely concerned that this ruling will embolden state legislatures to enact further measures to restrict a woman's right to choose, and that the conservative Supreme Court justices will look for other opportunities to erode Roe v. Wade, which is established federal law and a matter of equal rights for women.
I could not disagree more strongly with today's Supreme Court decision. The ban upheld by the Court is an ill-considered and sweeping prohibition that does not even take account for serious threats to the health of individual women. This hard right turn is a stark reminder of why Democrats cannot afford to lose the 2008 election. Too much is at stake - starting with, as the Court made all too clear today, a woman's right to choose
This decision marks a dramatic departure from four decades of Supreme Court rulings that upheld a woman's right to choose and recognized the importance of women's health. Today's decision blatantly defies the Court's recent decision in 2000 striking down a state partial-birth abortion law because of its failure to provide an exception for the health of the mother. As the Supreme Court recognized in Roe v. Wade in 1973, this issue is complex and highly personal; the rights and lives of women must be taken into account. It is precisely this erosion of our constitutional rights that I warned against when I opposed the nominations of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito.
"Today the Supreme Court took a dangerous step backward in regard to Americans' rights to personal choice and privacy," said Governor Richardson. "In doing so, the Court disregarded the opinion of experienced and respected medical professionals who oppose the ban because there are no exceptions protecting women's health. While not unexpected, I believe this unfortunate decision is a clear signal that the Supreme Court is opening the door to further challenges to personal medical decisions between patients and doctors that should not involve the government."[...]
"I am concerned, as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stated so clearly in her dissenting opinion, that this vote could be the beginning of `an effort to chip away a right declared again and again by this court'," added the Governor. I sincerely hope that is not the case."
Today's Supreme Court ruling is a victory for those who cherish the sanctity of life and integrity of the judiciary. The ruling ensures that an unacceptable and unjustifiable practice will not be carried out on our innocent children. It also clearly speaks to the importance of nominating and confirming strict constructionist judges who interpret the law as it is written, and do not usurp the authority of Congress and state legislatures. As we move forward, it is critically important that our party continues to stand on the side of life.
The Supreme Court reached the correct conclusion in upholding the congressional ban on partial birth abortion. I agree with it.
Today, our nation's highest court reaffirmed the value of life in America by upholding a ban on a practice that offends basic human decency. This decision represents a step forward in protecting the weakest and most innocent among us.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2007"Pro Life, Whole Life" Senator Sam Brownback Hails Today's Pro Life Victory
ALEXANDRIA, Va-U.S. Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, the leading pro-life voice in the U.S. Congress and Republican candidate for President, today applauded the Supreme Court ruling to uphold the federal ban on partial birth abortions. On the Senate floor, Brownback stated: "I'm delighted that the Supreme Court is moving forward to see the expression of life in the Constitution. I hope that some day we'll see all life respected at all stages and protected in this land and around the world." Brownback also added: "I am very pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled to uphold the ban on partial birth abortions. This ban was enacted to put an end to one of the most grotesque forms of abortion, and it is completely in line with the respect for life that is at the very heart of our Constitution. This is a great step forward for our nation's citizens, born and unborn." Brownback continued: "I applaud the Court for finding that the Constitution 'expresses respect for the dignity of human life,' and hope that this decision signals the Court's willingness to revisit and reverse Roe v. Wade." U.S. Senator Sam Brownback has been a champion of the pro-life movement since he was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 1994. Brownback is unequivocally pro-life, and believes all innocent life must be defended from conception until natural death. Brownback has led the fight in the U.S. Congress to confirm strict constructionists to the bench, like Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, and to overturn Roe v. Wade. Brownback has also worked to end taxpayer funding of abortion, ban partial birth abortion, require notification that an unborn child experiences pain during late-term and partial-birth abortion, oppose taxpayer funding for life-destroying scientific research, ban human cloning, ban fetal farming, and ban human-animal hybrids. Brownback also opposes doctor-assisted suicide. The pro-life movement made significant gains today, a reminder of the importance of electing a pro-life President in 2008. U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, a strong and consistent pro-life Republican, is the clear choice.
I commend the United States Supreme Court for upholding the nation's ban on partial-birth abortions. This decision sends a clear message that the United States values life and has no tolerance for this gruesome, abhorrent way to take a life. There is no place for partial-birth abortions in this country, and I am pleased the court upheld the law passed by Congress.