Area elected officials react to high court ruling on abortion

Here is how area elected officials reacted to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade, rolling back nearly 50 years of protections for those seeking abortions.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization challenged a 2018 Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks into pregnancy. The case was used to challenge the nearly 50-year-old Roe v. Wade decision, which has allowed abortions up to a certain point across the United States.

U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta:

Today is unquestionably a huge win for the pro-life community. Those who’ve worked so hard for nearly five decades fighting to recognize and protect the life of the unborn — the most vulnerable and innocent among us — have reason to rejoice. However, pro-life Americans must continue to stand up and speak out for the sanctity of life.

President Trump understood that, and it’s why his administration worked so hard to implement policies to defend the unborn, and appointed countless pro-life district and circuit court judges and three Supreme Court justices who decide cases according to the Constitution and not political passions. Without President Trump and Senate Republicans standing strong on federal court confirmations, today’s landmark ruling simply wouldn't have happened.

Finally, today’s ruling highlights the courage of several justices who refused to be intimidated by threats of violence and daily protests at their homes. They should be commended for putting the integrity of the Constitution above their own comfort and safety.

U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville: 

This is a landmark ruling recognizing the moral and constitutional errors of Roe, and a tremendous victory for the millions of Americans who have spent 50 years fighting for the pro-life cause. Just as important, this is an opportunity for every unborn child, the voiceless and most vulnerable, who need a champion for their chance at a thriving and fulfilling life. Our previous abortion policies were on par with Communist China and the oppressive regime of North Korea, and this ruling understood there was never any constitutional right to the barbarism Roe allowed. This ruling, like so many that correct federal overreach, puts this difficult moral question in the hands of the states.

In the wake of this monumental and polarizing decision, it is important that all Americans step back to understand and recognize the legitimacy of this ruling. There is never a time for political violence in the United States. We have seen fire bombings and vandalism perpetrated against crisis pregnancy centers across the country recently with almost zero mention in the mainstream media. We cannot allow or excuse political violence. If these attacks continue after this ruling, I hope we can universally condemn them for heinous acts of violence they are.

State Rep. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark:

There has been no issue over the past 50 years in America that is as emotionally charged or has firmly held convictions and deeply divided opinions than the issue of abortion.

There is no middle ground on the subject and with many people having very deeply held convictions on the matter, it has been a contentious issue for the entirety of my legislative career.

Today's United States Supreme Court decision overturns Roe v. Wade and returns the life and death decisions of abortion to states and state legislatures to determine the law in their respective states. I would argue that state legislatures are the proper and legitimate place for the debate to occur.

The Ohio General Assembly is comprised of many legislators who believe that life begins at conception and we have taken a number of steps through the years to reduce abortions in Ohio. We will likely take additional action in the months ahead to further protect the lives of the unborn.

State Rep. Brett Hillyer, R-Uhrichsville:

I am not sure what Ohio’s Legislature intends to do. No matter what, Ohio needs to move forward with protections for women including employment non-discrimination for pregnancy, healthcare for mothers and infants and access to healthcare for mothers and infants, as well as looking at the actual cost of childcare.

I will always stand behind my pro-life record and support the attorney general’s motion to enforce existing Ohio law.

These decisions belong to the people and the voters at the state level, which is what the US Supreme Court has ruled.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Area elected officials react to high court ruling on abortion