WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will begin hearing oral arguments in Idaho v. United States, a case that could allow states to ban emergency abortions. The crux of the case is whether hospitals that receive Medicare funding are required to provide emergency care, including abortions, regardless of state abortion bans. If the Supreme Court rules in Idaho’s favor, more Republican-controlled states will feel empowered to pass extreme abortion bans and deny women life-saving care.
Time and time again, the Supreme Court has proven hostile to reproductive freedoms – from overturning Roe v. Wade to ruling earlier this year that the Idaho ban could take effect ahead of oral arguments.
Given this reality, state legislatures have never been more important in shaping the landscape of reproductive freedoms.
At any point, this court could catapult an egregious Republican state law to the national stage for other states to apply such restrictions – just as is happening in Idaho now. The best defense against Republicans’ assault on reproductive freedoms is to elect Democrats to state legislatures, who will champion reproductive care and counter GOP extremism. Last month, the DLCC unveiled a memo highlighting the landscape of GOP attacks and how states are the ultimate arbiters of reproductive freedom.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee National Press Secretary Sam Paisley issued the following statement:
“Republican abortion bans have already created a hellscape around health care, but this Supreme Court case could lead to a death sentence for pregnancy complications. Emergency abortions are just that – emergencies. It’s outrageous that we’re even debating whether life-saving health care should be on the table. This Supreme Court has repeatedly proven hostile to reproductive freedoms, which has empowered Republican legislators across the country to heighten their attacks on reproductive health. Every single Republican-controlled legislature has passed or implemented an abortion ban since Roe fell. Make no mistake – Republican legislators will own the deadly consequences of this court decision.
“Electing Democrats to state legislatures has never been more important to combat the full-out assault on life-saving reproductive care. The DLCC will continue to sound the alarm on the stakes of 2024 and how fundamental freedoms are on the line in the states. 2024 is the most important year in state legislative campaign history.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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Background
Idaho’s abortion ban has had devastating consequences since it took effect:
22% of practicing OB-GYNs and 55% of maternal-fetal medicine specialists have left their jobs.
3 maternity wards have closed.
Hospitals have had to airlift patients with pregnancy complications out of state for better care.
