What are they saying? Roe is overturned, Georgia politicians, organizations react

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The Supreme Court, in an opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito, ruled Friday that Roe v. Wade is overturned.

"Roe was egregiously wrong from the start," Alito wrote for the majority. "Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences."

Now attention turns to the states to see how they will regulate abortion. Georgia already drew national attention for a 2019 abortion law that banned abortions after about six weeks, the so-called "heartbeat bill." That law was halted by the court as unconstitutional under Roe v. Wade, but will likely be able to move forward now.

More: Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision means Georgia's abortion law can take effect quickly

Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan dissented from the ruling.

"(The court) says that from the very moment of fertilization, a woman has no rights to speak of," they write. "A State can force her to bring a pregnancy to term, even at the steepest personal and familial costs. An abortion restriction, the majority holds, is permissible whenever rational, the lowest level of scrutiny known to the law."

Almost as soon as the ruling was published, politicians began speaking out about it.

Federal representatives split along party lines

Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-GA, released a statement condemning the decision and highlighting his legislative effort to create a federal law, not just legal precedent, codifying the right to an abortion.

“I’ve always believed a patient’s room is too small a space for a woman, her doctor and the United States government,” Warnock was quoted as saying in a statement. “The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade ends a core protection for women to make their own health care decisions, and is a departure from our American ideals to recognize and protect basic rights. This misguided decision is devastating for women and families in Georgia and nationwide.”

U.S. Rep. Rick Allen of the 12th district celebrated the decision.

"I applaud the Supreme Court's decision," he was quoted as saying in a news release. "In the decades since Roe v. Wade, more than 62 million innocent lives have been lost to abortion. ... I remain committed to upholding the sanctity of life during my tenure in Congress."

Rep. Jody Hice, who represents the 10th District, praised God for the decision.

Rep. Earl Leroy "Buddy" Carter in the 1st District tweeted simply "LIFE WINS."

Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker also released a statement saying he supported the decision to let states regulate abortion.

“This Supreme Court decision sends the issue of abortion back to the states, which is where it belongs," he was quoted as saying in a statement. "I won’t apologize for erring on the side of life, especially considering the radical abortion views held by Senator Warnock and today’s Democrat party.”

Abortion now up to the states

Gov. Brian Kemp, who signed Georgia's heartbeat bill into law, called the ruling a "historic victory for life."

"I look forward to its impact on the legal proceedings surrounding Georgia's LIFE Act, and hope our law will be fully implemented and ultimately protect countless unborn lines here in the Peach State," he Tweeted.

Attorney General Chris Carr announced on Twitter that his office has already filed a notice to allow Georgia's heartbeat bill to be implemented.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams released a brief video condemning the ruling.

"I am appalled. Enraged. Undaunted & ready to fight back," she Tweeted.

With the federal right to an abortion now overturned, access or limitations on abortion will be up to the states, and in Georgia, some see the midterm as a battle over reproductive health.

“Make no mistake – with Roe v. Wade overturned, the midterm elections in Georgia have become a referendum on reproductive freedom," Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Congresswoman Nikema Williams was quoted as saying in a statement.

The Georgia Republican Party said that the ruling was a legal, as well as a moral, victory.

"Today's historic Supreme Court ruling not only affirmed the sanctity and dignity of human life but resolved decades of unconstitutional rulings that interfered with democratic processes to protect the most vulnerable in our society,"  Chairman David Shafer was quoted as saying in a release.

Amplify Georgia Collaborative, a network of organizations that provide, research and advocate on reproductive health issues in the south, held a press conference Friday with a number of member organizations One of them was Oriaku Njoku is the executive director of Access Reproductive Care - Southeast, a regional abortion found out of Atlanta that covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.

"We must acknowledge that Roe never guaranteed that abortions would be accessible," Njoku said. "For many of the people we work with the ability to access abortion care has already been pushed out of reach for decades. This is our daily reality."

But, Njoku said, that does not mean that the Dobbs decision will not impact people who ARC-Southeast serves.

"The implications of this ruling to overturn Roe is nothing short of devastating," she said. "Anti abortion lawmakers are already trying to prohibit people from accessing abortion across state lines, showing there is no limit to their cruel attempts to limit personal health care decisions."

Georgia Life Alliance, a major anti-abortion group in Georgia, said they had been anticipating the decision.

"Now, more than ever, we need to rally together to prepare for a post-Roe culture in Georgia," read a newsletter from the organization. "The moment Georgia’s Heartbeat Bill is upheld, Women are going to begin receiving calls such as “I’m sorry, but we have to cancel your abortion appointment” - we have to be ready to help them and guide them to the resources they need to step into motherhood with confidence, joy, and support."

In a statement, Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates said that the decision will not deter them.

“No abortion restrictions, even the ones pre-Roe, stopped people seeking access to abortion," Amy Kennedy, vice president of external affairs, was quoted as saying in a release. "The Supreme Court’s ruling has just launched our nation into chaos and placed even more pressure on a health care system that was already buckling. Let me be clear: We will not back down. No judge, no politician, no ban should ever block your personal medical decisions or set the course for someone’s health and life."

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Georgia politicians react to Supreme Court abortion ruling, split by party