A ‘dangerous’ ruling. How Pennsylvania lawmakers reacted to SCOTUS ruling overturning Roe

The Supreme Court, with a conservative majority vote, overturned Roe v. Wade Friday. The move ends constitutional protections for abortion in the United States and decisions about abortion access will be left to the individual states.

The ruling is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states, according to the Associated Press. But the decision won’t immediately impact Pennsylvania, something Democratic Governor Tom Wolf stressed in a statement. Abortion services are still available in Pennsylvania, despite the court’s action. Under Pennsylvania law, abortion is legal up until 24 weeks of pregnancy, with some exceptions.

Wolf has vowed to protect abortion access and reproductive health care in the state until his term is up and he leaves office in January.

“To women and pregnant people in surrounding states and across the country where this isn’t the case, you are safe here in the commonwealth.”

Still, he said he was “deeply disappointed” in the Supreme Court’s opinion and the impact the decision will have nationwide.

“The right to bodily autonomy — and privacy as a whole — is under attack in this country. We must do more to protect the rights of women and pregnant people in every state across the country that doesn’t have a governor willing to wield their veto pen,” Wolf said.

He said the upcoming November election — in which Pennsylvanians will vote in a new governor and a new senator — is critical. He urged everyone to vote.

“This decision did not happen overnight. Right-wing extremists have been strategically planning to dismantle decades long decisions to further their agendas and divide our country with policies designed to infringe upon our freedoms. They have done so one vote at a time, one election at a time across our beloved nation. We cannot allow this to continue,” he said.

On social media and in statements, lawmakers who represent Centre County and Pennsylvania, and candidates hoping to do the same, reacted to the news.

Lawmakers statewide react

In a statement, Democrat Senator Bob Casey said the Supreme Court’s ruling is “dangerous” and will put women’s lives at risk.

“Today’s decision upends almost a half century of legal precedent and rips away a constitutional right that generations of women have known their entire lives. This dangerous ruling won’t end abortions in this country, but it will put women’s lives at risk,” Casey said. “And make no mistake — this is not the end goal, it’s just the beginning. Republicans in Congress want to pass federal legislation to completely ban abortion. Our daughters and granddaughters should not grow up with fewer rights than their mothers.”

Republican Senator Pat Toomey called the court’s decision “a win for the unborn.”

“The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization restores the American people’s ability to determine abortion laws through their elected representatives, as the Constitution requires,” Toomey wrote on Twitter.

He continued: “Precedents that are wrongly decided should be overturned, just as Brown v. Board of Education was right to overturn Plessy v. Ferguson. This ruling is a win for the unborn, the Constitution, and democratic governance.”

Josh Shapiro, Democrat nominee for governor of Pennsylvania and current Attorney General, said in a statement that today is a tragic day.

“While we expected we’d face this devastating ruling — this is a tragic day for our country, as a woman’s freedom to choose now depends on the state in which she lives. Abortion is still legal in Pennsylvania, but whether it remains legal depends entirely on who we elect as our next Governor,” Shapiro said.

If elected governor, Shapiro has vowed to veto any bill that restricts a woman’s right to choose. His opponent, Republican Doug Mastriano has said he would sign a bill banning abortion at six weeks with no exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the pregnant woman.

In a statement Friday, Mastriano, Senator of Pennsylvania’s 33rd District, said the decision is a “triumph for innocent life.”

“Roe v. Wade is rightly relegated to the ash heap of history. As the abortion debate returns to the states, Pennsylvania must be prepared to lead the nation in being a voice for the voiceless,” he said.

“While this decision by the U.S. Supreme Court is a triumph for innocent life, it must not take our focus away from the key issues facing Pennsylvania families,” he said. “Pennsylvanians will not be distracted by the hysterics of the left as they exploit this ruling to try to fulfill their far-left agenda. As they struggle with all-time record-high inflation, the people care deeply about the price of gas and groceries, as well as out-of-control crime and good-paying jobs – which is exactly why I will prioritize these issues as their governor.”

On Twitter, John Fetterman, Democrat candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania, said if elected to the Senate, he’d “proudly vote to codify Roe v. Wade into law.”

“It is unjust. It is wrong. And I’m going to fight it with everything I’ve got,” he wrote.

His opponent, Republican candidate Mehmet Oz, on Twitter said he is “relieved” that the decision will be left to the states.

“The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is to many considered controversial. I respect those with a different view, but as a heart surgeon, I’ve held the smallest of human hearts in the palm of my hand, and will defend the sanctity of life,” Oz wrote. “I am relieved that protecting the lives of America’s unborn children will once again be decided by the people through their elected representatives. As we lift up life, we must focus on the needs of mothers and children, for whom this decision can be the greatest gift of all.”

He has said in the past that he is pro-life but believes rape, incest and the life of the pregnant woman are exceptions to an abortion ban.

What are lawmakers who represent Centre County saying?

Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, and Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler, in a statement said the ruling reestablishes the authority of the states and that the ruling “presents a necessary opportunity to examine our existing abortion law, and discussions around possible changes are already underway.”

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling reestablishes the authority of states to regulate abortion. The ruling once again makes clear it is the authority of individual states to establish laws that are in the best interest of their residents.”

The statement said the Pennsylvania’s Abortion Control Act remains and “places firm restrictions on abortions in our Commonwealth including a ban on all late-term abortion procedures.”

“This ruling presents a necessary opportunity to examine our existing abortion law, and discussions around possible changes are already underway,” the statement read.

Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Rush Township, on Twitter said “as Pennsylvania legislators and governing officials, we must immediately focus our efforts to enshrining reproductive rights in our state constitution.”

Rep. Fred Keller, R-Kreamer, in a statement commended the court for its decision. He said he will continue to fight “against the left’s attempts to pass extreme legislation that allows for late-term abortions and taxpayer funded procedures.”

“Today’s historic decision ushers in a new era of prolife protections for the unborn not seen in half a century. I commend the Supreme Court for its fortitude — amid threats of attacks and harassment from the radical left — to make the right decision and return this issue back to the states where it belongs. Most importantly, this ruling invalidates Roe v. Wade which was wrongly decided nearly 50 years ago,” Keller wrote.

On Facebook, Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, R-McElhattan, celebrated the court’s decision, stating “life wins” and “life prevails.”

“A historical, monumental day! We are the Post-Roe Generation!” she wrote in one post.

U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Howard Township, applauded the court’s decision.

“My position on life has always been clear. You can’t be a champion for the future of this great country if you are going to limit its potential. It is my belief that every child, every human life, is sacred and has a purpose in this world,” Thompson wrote. “Today’s Supreme Court decision returns the authority to regulate abortion to the states, through the people and their elected officials.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Benner Township, declined to comment.

Paul Takac, a Democrat candidate for Pennsylvania’s 82nd House District, in a statement said the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is “shameful.” He said he is “heartbroken” for the millions of Americans the decision will impact, but also for the country.

“Amongst so much national tragedy, we are looking at a court and national leadership filled with zealots who are more concerned about giving guns more rights than women and people,” he wrote. “This ruling from the Supreme Court is dangerous, horrifying, and absolutely betrays the trust of the American people. And I feel the same fear that so many folks do of what is next to come.”

He continued: “With this shift of power back to the states, the upcoming election in November has never had more at stake for Pennsylvanians. It is still legal to access safe abortion in our Commonwealth, and we must keep it that way.”

Robert Zeigler, a Democrat running for Pennsylvania’s 171st House District, on Twitter said, “We need people who will stand up for reproductive rights and take on these lackluster GOP leaders for not defending healthcare and privacy issues.”