Evansville city councilor, Indiana Democrats speak out against Roe decision
EVANSVILLE, Ind.— Members of the Indiana Democratic Party, including an Evansville city councilor, are making their way around the state to discuss abortion and what the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade could mean for residents.
"In Indiana, days are now numbered to get a safe and legal abortion," Myla Eldridge, vice-chair of the state's Democratic party, said during a news conference in Evansville Monday.
"It is unclear how extreme the Indiana Republican Party will go."
After the Supreme Court nullified an almost-50-year-old federal right to access to abortion, it is now up to the states is set their own laws. And the GOP holds a supermajority in the Indiana Legislature, essentially icing Democrats out of any legislative decision.
The General Assembly is set to meet for special session next week to discuss a taxpayer refund. Gov. Eric Holcomb said he hopes the general assembly will use that time to discuss abortion as well.
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Indiana is one of dozens of states expected to either ban or severely limit the procedure in the coming weeks.
Under current Indiana law, abortion is banned after 22 weeks, with few provisions for medical emergencies. Before making the decision, people must wait 18 hours and doctors have to explain the risk involved with the procedure.
Medication abortion is banned after 10 weeks.
Eldridge was joined Monday by Evansville City Councilor Kaitlin Moore, as well as former Hammond police officer and state representative Linda Lawson.
Moore, a pastor, emphasized the importance of separation of church and state.
"One of the things Christianity truly gets right is the ability to choose," Moore said. "It's not a politician's business to decide if a women should have an abortion. That choice is between a woman and her doctor."
Lawson said she has handled cases of rape to children impregnated by their sibling.
"Women who have been raped or are victims of violent sexual assault or young women who have (experienced) incest that has crippled them, they will no longer be able to have an abortion," she said. "They won't be able to have control over their lives anymore."
The Democratic Party said their plan is to band together and run for offices to put a dent in the supermajority.
Ray McCormick, who is running in the U.S. House's 8th congressional district against incumbent Republican Rep. Larry Bucshon, said politicians should not make the decision for someone else — or even put limitations on someone else's choice.
"We cannot celebrate Independence Day in a week when we're taking the independence of women today," he said.
Alexa Shrake can be reached by email at AShrake@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville councilor, Indiana Democrats speak out against Roe decision
