Several state and national offices issued comments following Friday’s release of the Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade. Sen. Roger Marshall, Rep. Ron Estes, Rep. Tracey Mann and Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt all praised the ruling.
Marshall also condemned protests that became violent after news of the ruling. Mann and Schmidt reminded Kansans that women still have a right to abortion under the Kansas Constitution but that voters will decide whether or not to amend the constitution on August 2.
Sen. Roger Marshall
Sen. Roger Marshall, MD, issued this comment after the ruling:
“Today is a historic day. With Supreme Court of the United States’ ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, the emotion-filled issue of abortion is now in the hands of state governments.
“As an OBGYN, I had the honor of delivering more than 5,000 babies. Because of these wonderful moments and experiences, I believe life begins at conception. In fact, this is why today’s historic decision signals a new beginning for millions of unborn American children.
“Hopefully, today begins healing the wounds the pro-abortion agenda ripped open on American society almost 50 years ago. While the Democrat Majority Leader called for violence during a pro-abortion rally speech on the steps of the Supreme Court, we as a nation are better than this. I urge all Americans to remain peaceful and respectful during the protests of this decision.
“Justice cannot and will not be served under the threat of mob violence so help us God.”
Rep. Ron Estes
“After more than 60 million babies were denied the blessings of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness before they were even born, the disastrous and misguided Roe v. Wade ruling from 1973 has finally been overturned,” said Fourth District Congressman Ron Estes. “Today’s ruling does not ban abortion, but returns abortion regulation to each state and their democratically elected officials. As the left continues to push radical abortion policy in Kansas, this gives a new voice to the majority who want common sense laws that protect mothers and babies, like parental consent for minors, no taxpayer-funded abortions, and an end to late-term abortions.”
Rep. Tracey Mann
“Fifty years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court legislated from the bench with Roe V. Wade and declared abortion a Constitutional right grounded in a woman’s right to privacy – a legal move that was shaky, biased, and wrong,” Rep. Tracey Mann stated Friday in his newsletter. “Since the ruling, 62 million American children were robbed of their right to life.
“The Supreme Court does not have constitutional grounds to legalize abortion services nationwide, and the ruling in 1973 stripped away the states’ rights to decide. It took away the American people’s right to decide whether our country values the lives of every citizen, born or unborn. Today’s decision gives the power back to the American people as designed in our Constitution.
“We have witnessed a monumental win for the pro-life movement. Brave American advocates from all walks of life called for this ruling and tirelessly pushed back on the evil of abortion and the radical left, but we still have an uphill battle ahead.
“On August 2nd, Kansans will be the first citizens to go to the voting booth and decide whether our state will allow abortion services – the very thing that the U.S. Supreme Court has stated we have the right to do as outlined in the Constitution. Kansans are trail blazers by nature, and I encourage everyone to educate themselves on this issue before taking to the polls later this summer.
“Today is a day to celebrate. Today is a day of answered prayers. Today, the Supreme Court rectified a wrong that has plagued our country and resulted in the deaths of millions. May America’s heart and soul be transformed by this ruling.”
AG Derek Schmidt
“Today’s landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court was the right one because as a matter of constitutional interpretation, as the Court writes, ‘Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,’” said Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt. “Now, the Court explains, ‘The permissibility of abortion, and the limitations upon it, are to be resolved like most important questions in our democracy: by citizens trying to persuade one another and then voting.’
“Today’s decision means the power and responsibility to decide the important and difficult questions involving regulation of abortion have been returned to the people instead of federal judges. The people of Kansas will speak directly to this subject in less than six weeks. In voting on the Value Them Both amendment, Kansans will decide whether state judges may determine how abortion is regulated in Kansas or whether that is a responsibility for the elected and democratically accountable branches of state government.
“In my view, the increase in the number of abortions in Kansas the past two years after a long period of steady decline is distressing. I prefer a future with less abortion, not more. To preserve existing limits on late-term abortions, requirements parents be notified when minors seek abortion, and prohibitions on using taxpayer funds to pay for abortion, I will join with other pro-life Kansans in casting my vote for Value Them Both. On August 2, the people will speak and their voice will show the path forward for Kansas.”
