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Today’s ruling by the United States Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, while expected, is never-the-less devastating for millions of women throughout America. For those of us in Pennsylvania it is a clarion call for action to protect a right that has stood as the law of the land for nearly 50 years – until today. The pen has been mightier than the sword Presently in the Pennsylvania legislature, there have been at least 19 bills addressing abortion introduced in this legislative session. Only 5 of those bills, including my bill codifying Roe in Pennsylvania law, have been introduced by Democrats, all with the intention of expanding and protecting abortion rights. The Republican majority in the state legislature refuses to allow the Democratic bills to even be considered in committee. Instead, they move one Republican sponsored radical anti-choice bill after another. Many of the Republican bills to limit or outright ban abortion have made it out of committee for House and Senate floor votes including the “Heartbeat Bill” which effectively bans abortion for all practical purposes. That bill, and a few other measures equally as outrageous, have actually passed on nearly party-line votes and made their way to the Governor’s desk only to be vetoed. But for the veto pen of Governor Wolf, Pennsylvania would be an anti-choice state among the likes of Mississippi, Texas and Florida. Donate now to keep abortions safe and legal in Pennsylvania Impending doom With the nomination of State Senator Doug Mastriano as the Republican candidate for Governor the threat of losing abortion rights in Pennsylvania has taken on a new and previously unimaginable reality. Mastriano is perhaps the best example of a Christian Nationalist running for major office in the entire country. If he has his way, his version of Christian values will be imposed on all of us putting us on the verge of becoming a theocracy. In the State Senate, Mastriano has supported every extreme anti-abortion bill the Harrisburg Republicans have introduced. As a matter of fact, Doug Mastriano is the lead sponsor of the “Heartbeat Bill” in the State Senate. If he is elected the right-wing Republicans will criminalize abortions in the Commonwealth. The clarion call A clarion is a high-pitched, shrill trumpet used in medieval times to signal when it was time to go to battle. The leaking of Justice Alito’s opinion overturning Roe was a loud and clear call to prepare for the inevitable fight to preserve abortion rights, amplified by today’s ruling. We have to take up the fight at the ballot box. It is imperative that we elect Josh Shapiro as the next Governor of Pennsylvania. Anything less could mean the end of choice in Pennsylvania unless we succeed in winning a majority in either the state house or senate. I suggest to you that winning the Governor’s race means we are still playing defense. For us to go on the offense, we have to change who has the majority in Harrisburg. With redistricting this year, we have an opportunity to make a truly significant difference, not just for abortion rights but for many other progressive ideals we share. We have to heed the call. Vote! Volunteer! Donate! Thanks for reading, Kristine |