Since Friday local media has written more than a half dozen stories regarding those who oppose the recent U. S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. No stories have been written regarding those locally who support the decision. Yet main stream media, and especially local media, will tell you they are professional unbiased journalists.
This story is for those of you who support the decision. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. Cities 92.9 contacted several local politicians to get their thoughts on the ruling.
Jim Fisher who is running in the Republican Primary for Illinois State House in the 91st District was the most enthusiastic. “It calls for celebration that they overturned it,'” said Fisher. “By overturning Roe v. Wade they are sending it back to the states and they can decide.” Fisher added, “Overturning Roe v. Wade does not make abortions illegal.”
Fisher went on to point out that in fact more abortions will likely take place in Illinois with Governor JB Pritzker suggesting the state fund persons who can’t get an abortion in their state traveling to Illinois for abortions. “Still,” Fisher said, “being a pro life candidate I think that this (the Supreme Court decision) is a good thing.”
Fisher is running against Scott Preston who did not respond to our request for comments. The winner in that Republican Primary will face the winner of the Democrat primary. Sharon Chung and Karla Bailey-Smith are facing off in that primary.
According to WGLT, “Chung and Bailey-Smith say, “they’re devastated and sickened by the U. S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade – and that the state needs to act to protect healthcare providers and fortify it’s laws permitting abortion.”
Fisher indicated during his interview that he is prepared to take on those in the state that share Chung and Bailey-Smith’s opinions should he be elected to the state legislature.
McLean County Board member and Justice Committee Chair Chuck Erickson, a Republican, told us, “Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided. Even Ruth Bader Ginsburg said it was poorly written. Most legal scholars will tell you the same. The issue of abortion was decided state by state before Roe and once again will be decided by each state and their elected representatives.”
It is interesting and not insignificant that Erickson brought up Ginsburg. Many have criticized her since Friday for not retiring from the U. S. Supreme Court while Barak Obama was President. Ginsburg, who was often ill at the time, stayed on the court. Democrats pleaded with her to resign so Obama could determine her replacement. When she passed away the result was President Donald Trump was able to appoint her replacement which some say led to Friday’s Supreme Court decision.
McLean County Board member and Vice-Chair Jim Soeldner, also a Republican, said, “The Supreme Court is selected by a sitting President and confirmed by the U. S. Senate so it’s, in a way, by the will of the people. I’m sure as many people were upset 50 years ago when Roe v. Wade was approved as there are today. I support the decision to overturn as long as state’s maintain the right to decide on issues locally.”
Both Erickson and Soeldner serve on the county board with Beverly Bell. Bell was quoted by WGLT as saying she now lives in fear. According to GLT Bell said, “If they went after (abortion) then they are going to come after me because I am gay and I am black and I am female.”
While some might like to think Bell’s fears are baseless that’s not necessarily so.
Since Friday’s ruling Supreme Court member Clarence Thomas has already called for overturning precedents on contraceptives and LGBTQ rights according to The Hill. Regarding a separate opinion on the case that overturned Roe, (Dobbs v. Jackson) that Thomas wrote, The Hill said, “he argued that the constitution’s Due Process Clause does not secure the right to abortion or any other substantive rights, and he urged the court to apply that reasoning to other landmark cases.”
Erickson, Fisher and Soeldner all agree with the decision to return the decisions on abortion to the states.
According to NPR, “Abortion is now illegal or heavily restricted in at least 11 states,” and “12 other states have laws that pave the way to quickly ban or severely restrict access to them.”
