Path 2
What comes after Roe? GOP attacks on birth control Image

Abortion Wednesday, May 11 2022

What comes after Roe? GOP attacks on birth control

May 11, 2022

With the Supreme Court’s Republican appointees likely voting to overturn Roe v. Wade, a new report from HuffPost highlights that the Republicans have pivoted to attacking Griswold v. Connecticut, which protects contraception access.

1965’s Griswold decision set the stage for “contraception access for unmarried couples, same-sex marriage rights and, of course, abortion access in Roe v. Wade.”

Now, on top of pushing r deeply-unpopular abortion bans, some Republicans have pivoted to attacking Griswold and its underlying protections that prevent states from banning access to contraception.

From Arizona GOP Senate candidate Blake Masters calling the Griswold decision  “wrongfully decided” to Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate Jeff Bartos calling Griswold a “terrible decision,” it’s clear that the “GOP crusade against abortion could lead to contraception bans.” 

HuffPost: GOP Crusade Against Abortion Could Lead To Contraception Bans

By: Amanda Terkel | May 11, 2022

Key Points:

  • “Griswold was a landmark case, ruling against Connecticut on the basis of a married couple’s right to privacy. It set the stage for future decisions ensuring contraception access for unmarried couples, same-sex marriage rights and, of course, abortion access in Roe v. Wade. Many Republicans abhor Griswold precisely because it is the foundation for so many other decisions.”
  • “But if Republicans get what they want ― an overturning of Griswold ― it would kick the issue back to the states and open the door to restrictions or bans on birth control methods, because there would be no federal guarantee of access.”
  • “In Senate races, Masters said he backs it. Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate Dave McCormick said he believes life begins at conception. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who is up for reelection, said it’s “irrefutable” that life begins at conception in 2012. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who is also running this cycle, has backed personhood bills.”
  • “In congressional races, Christopher Rodriguez, a Republican running in California’s 49th District, said he plans to ‘author a bill that will define human life as beginning in the womb and therefore protected by the United States constitution.’ Tim Reichert, running in Colorado’s 7th District, has ― in his work as an economist ― given presentations and written opinion articles arguing that contraception harms women economically and psychologically because it makes it harder for them to get married. His campaign has said he does not want to ban birth control.”
  • “And at the state level, there’s even more support. Candidates who have endorsed the idea of personhood legislation or the belief that life begins at conception include DePerno in Michigan, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R), Arizona attorney general candidate Tiffany Shedd, Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial candidate Kevin Nicholson, Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Lou Barletta and others.”

Read the full story here.

###


Published: May 11, 2022 | Last Modified: May 18, 2022

Jump to Content