Amidst the onslaught of threats the Trump administration has inflicted on abortion rights, the state of Delaware is taking a stand. The Delaware House of Representatives passed a bill that makes sure abortion stays legal even if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the Supreme Court. Now, that this bill has passed in both Delaware’s Senate and House of Representatives — it just needs to be signed by Democratic Governor John Carney.
Carney hasn’t formally said if he will sign the new bill but his spokesman Jonathan Starkey said, “He will the sign the bill,” and his spokeswoman Jessica Borcky said, “The governor supports the rights and protections afforded women under Roe v. Wade.”
This is a saving grace given Trump pledged to overturn Roe v. Wade during his campaign and confirmed Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.
Gorsuch opposes abortion and supported a small business that refused to give contraceptives to their employees as part of their health insurance. Gorsuch believes providing contraceptives goes against businesses religious liberty and has signaled that he does not believe the Constitution protects a right to abortion.
The bill is also an opposition to the recent abortion restrictions from Texas, especially bill SB 258. Authored by Sen. Don Huffines the bill requires the burial and cremation of the aborted fetus, to maintain the “dignity of the unborn”. Another thinly veiled attempt to restrict abortion and shame women into feeling guilty for their choice.
Abortion is a right protected by the Supreme Court so yes it would take a lot to overturn Roe v. Wade but it’s certainly a threat.
If this bill is passed Delaware would be the first the first state to formally protect abortion rights since Trump took office, ensuring the women of Delaware will always have the right to choose.
However, anti-abortion groups are still rallying against this revolutionary bill. Right to Life spokeswoman Moira Sheridan even said the bill would turn Delaware into a “late term abortion haven”. Sheridan pledged that her opposition group would take the fight to the governor’s office and that they “will exert the same pressure upon Governor Carvey, a Catholic, to uphold the sanctity of life,”.
It’s important that this bill is passed because then abortion is protected at both the state and federal level, and even more importantly still protected if Roe v. Wade is overturned. You can find Governor Carvey’s contact information on his website and message him through email, phone or even social media. Bills such as these are vital in the fight to protect abortion rights as everyday conservatives and the Trump administration take away more and more.
