WASHINGTON, D.C. - Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, issued the following statement today after witnessing oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in Whole Women's Health vs. Hellerstedt:
"Today's hearing, and the forthcoming decision, is pivotal to the future of Texas and Louisiana's right to protect the health and safety of women through common-sense abortion regulations. The people of a state, and their elected legislators, must retain the right to ensure the continuity of care between abortion facilities intent on selling abortions and hospitals in case of emergency. The abortion industry cannot exist as an exception from health standards.
"Justices Ginsburg, Sotomayor, Breyer, and Kagan seemed committed to returning our nation to the 1970s and 1980s when states were prohibited from enacting any basic health regulations on abortion. Instead of analyzing the legal facts before them, these justices were looking to replace the judgments of the people of Texas and their duly-elected legislators with an abortion-on-demand mandate.
"The future of the case will almost certainly rest in the hands of Justice Kennedy. If he sides with the abortion attorneys and the four other justices, the Texas law could be struck down in part or in whole, producing a disastrous precedent against a state's right to enact common-sense health standards on abortion facilities and physicians.
"Louisiana Right to Life remains hopeful that the Supreme Court will follow the logic of the 5th Circuit and allow Louisiana and Texas to protect both women and unborn children."
