A majority of House and Senate Democrats are calling on the Supreme Court to block a Louisiana abortion law.
The court is set to hear oral arguments in March challenging the law, which would require doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, a requirement that critics say is designed to force abortion clinics to close.
A group of 161 House Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiJohn Feehery: Censure could give Democrats a way out of no-win impeachment Hillicon Valley: Trump officials propose retaliatory tariffs over French digital tax | FBI classifies FaceApp as threat | Twitter revamps policies to comply with privacy laws | Zuckerberg defends political ads policy Pelosi faces tough choices on impeachment managers MORE (Calif.), and 36 Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerOvernight Health Care — Presented by Johnson & Johnson — Democrats call on Supreme Court to block Louisiana abortion law | Michigan governor seeks to pause Medicaid work requirements | New front in fight over Medicaid block grants House, Senate Democrats call on Supreme Court to block Louisiana abortion law Why a second Trump term and a Democratic Congress could be a nightmare scenario for the GOP MORE (N.Y.), filed an amicus brief in support of the law’s challengers, June Medical Services.
ADVERTISEMENT
It will be the first abortion case taken up by the Supreme Court since President TrumpDonald John TrumpJustice Dept releases another round of summaries from Mueller probe North Dakota company gets 0M border wall contract after support from Trump Fox’s Cavuto reads mean letters urging him to stay away after Trump criticism MORE‘s two nominees — Justices Neil GorsuchNeil GorsuchHouse, Senate Democrats call on Supreme Court to block Louisiana abortion law Justices appear cautious of expanding gun rights in NY case Thanks to President Trump, major tests loom for Chief Justice Roberts MORE and Brett KavanaughBrett Michael KavanaughHouse, Senate Democrats call on Supreme Court to block Louisiana abortion law Justices appear cautious of expanding gun rights in NY case Thanks to President Trump, major tests loom for Chief Justice Roberts MORE — were confirmed to the bench.
According to the lawmakers, admitting privilege requirements “serve no medical benefit, while imposing undue burdens on access to abortion through increased costs and reduced availability of care. These burdens cause unnecessary delays and impose health risks to women.”
The brief notes that the Supreme Court in 2016 struck down an almost identical law in Texas because it resulted in the closure of half of the state’s abortion clinics, which would place an “undue burden” on women seeking a legal abortion.
If the Louisiana law goes into effect, only one clinic and one abortion provider would remain in the state.
Despite the Supreme Court’s 2016 ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit upheld the Louisiana law last year in a 2-1 vote, ruling it “does not impose a substantial burden on a large fraction of women.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Proponents of the law, including Sen. Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David HawleyHouse, Senate Democrats call on Supreme Court to block Louisiana abortion law Senate approves stopgap bill to prevent shutdown Senate passes legislation supporting Hong Kong protesters MORE (R-Mo.), who filed his own amicus brief, argue the Court should maintain the law because it does not represent a burden for all women in the state, only some.
Lawmakers said the case still represents a direct challenge to the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade, even though Louisiana and its supporters have not asked the Court to formally overturn Roe.
The Democrats said upholding Louisiana’s law would allow states to effectively eliminate abortion.
“As with other statutes targeting abortion providers and facilities, the actual legislative intent here is to mandate requirements so difficult to fulfill that the inevitable outcome is the shuttering of abortion clinics and elimination of safe and legal abortions,” the Democrats wrote.
Click Here: true religion jean short