Texas Abortion Ban Allowed: Biden Orders Whole-of-Government Response
Emerges as a Key Issue for Next Year's Midterm Elections
October Mississippi Abortion Ban Ruling Expected to Decide Outcome
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Since Texas implemented its abortion ban law on the 1st (local time), aftershocks have been intensifying across the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to dismiss the injunction request to halt the enforcement of the abortion ban law has been interpreted as effectively overturning the ‘Roe v. Wade’ ruling, which fully legalized abortion 48 years ago. Abortion rights, a sharply divisive issue between conservative and progressive camps, have emerged as the biggest issue likely to influence voter sentiment in upcoming elections.
‘Abortion Ban Law’ Emerges as a U.S. Election Agenda
President Joe Biden strongly criticized the U.S. Supreme Court for not blocking Texas's abortion ban law on the 2nd (local time). In a statement released that day, President Biden said, "The Supreme Court's decision is an unprecedented attack on women's constitutional (abortion) rights protected under the ‘Roe v. Wade’ ruling for nearly 50 years," and pointed out, "This law is too extreme, as it does not allow exceptions even for rape or incest." President Biden also instructed the White House Counsel's Office to initiate legal responses.
Congress is also moving rapidly. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that when the House convenes on the 20th session, it will process a bill guaranteeing abortion rights prepared by Representative Judy Chu.
The U.S. Supreme Court recognized women's abortion rights through the so-called ‘Roe v. Wade’ ruling in 1973. However, the day before, the Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 that Texas's abortion ban law, which prohibits abortion after six weeks when a fetal heartbeat is detected, is ‘valid.’ The Supreme Court added, "This decision does not rule on constitutionality," but criticism is spreading that it overturned past rulings.
In particular, the Supreme Court's decision has intensified the political aftershocks related to abortion rights. In the U.S., the stance on abortion rights is a critical issue dividing conservatives and progressives, and it has been a sharply contentious matter between the two camps. With the midterm elections approaching next year, there are forecasts that abortion rights will rapidly rise as an election agenda.
In fact, ahead of the California gubernatorial election in September and the Virginia gubernatorial election in November, Democratic candidates are fiercely attacking the Republican Party regarding abortion restriction laws. Foreign media reported that these candidates are conducting public opinion campaigns urging voters to support Democratic candidates by warning that abortion would be banned if Republicans win the elections. The Florida state legislature, controlled by the Republican Party, announced plans to push for an abortion ban law similar to Texas's on the same day.
Will the ‘Roe v. Wade’ Ruling Be Overturned?
The conservative camp is pushing to overturn the Supreme Court's ‘Roe v. Wade’ ruling. The fate of abortion rights is expected to be decided in October with the Supreme Court's ruling on the constitutionality of Mississippi's abortion ban law.
If the law, which prohibits abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, is ruled constitutional, it will provide grounds for implementing abortion restriction laws nationwide, leading to a significant change where abortion rights could be restricted again for the first time in over 50 years since the ‘Roe v. Wade’ ruling.
The BBC analyzed that the ‘Roe v. Wade’ ruling is cornered, stating, "(The decision to allow Texas's abortion ban law) means that a majority of justices want to overturn the ‘Roe v. Wade’ ruling." The outlet added, "The victory of the conservative camp, which has opposed abortion for decades, is imminent," and evaluated that "a legal environment for abortion bans is rapidly taking shape."
Earlier, Texas implemented the abortion ban law known as the ‘Heartbeat Act’ starting on the 1st. This law prohibits abortion after six weeks when a fetal heartbeat is detected. Since it is difficult for women to realize they are pregnant by the sixth week, it is interpreted as effectively blocking abortion at the source.
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