June 1992 |
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President's Message (Arlene Ellis) Charter Commission Charter Commission Approves Ballot Submission of P&Z Changes (Astrid Monson) League Testifies Partly Published Letter (Astrid Monson) Viewpoint Action Alert Public Health Forum Membership Good to Hear from Marion Saunders (Marion Saunders) Voter Service |
Action AlertLEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS CONDEMNS HIGH COURT RULING IN PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA V. CASEY The League of Women Voters today expressed its outrage against the Supreme Court ruling that restrict the constitutional right of privacy for women in making reproductive choices. Because of this decision the right of privacy in making reproductive choices has become a matter of chance; in some states constitutional rights will be fully protected while in others these very same rights will be critically eroded. "By upholding this law the Supreme Court assumes that women are incapable of making an informed decision about something so intensely personal as whether, and when, to have children," said Becky Cain, president of the League of Women Voters of the United States. "This is an insulting, patronizing, and condescending decision." The League of Women Voters believes that public policy in a pluralistic society must affirm the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make informed reproductive choices. Since the League adopted a national. consensus position on this issue in 1983, state and local Leagues across the country have been working to protect a woman's right to privacy in reproductive choice. In addition, the League urged the Supreme Court to overturn the Pennsylvania law. The League of Women Voters has a long tradition of supporting issues of concern to families. For many years we have fought for the passage of legislation regarding child care, food and nutrition programs, and health care. We believe that these are truly pro-family issues. The League of Women Voters believes that any group or person who would restrict the right to freedom of choice is attacking the whole of individual liberty -- all liberty. In the wake of the Supreme Court decision the League feels it is now more crucial than ever that the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives pass the Freedom of Choice Act S 25 and HR 25 to ensure that this right is uniformly protected throughout the country. This legislation would prohibit states from restricting access to safe and legal abortion. Prior to fetal viability, states would be allowed to impose restrictions only to the extent that they are necessary to protect the life of the woman. After fetal viability, the states could impose restrictions except where the health or life of the woman is endangered. We need to flood congressional offices with calls and letters in support of the Freedom of Choice Act. Please take the opportunity to contact members of Congress to ask them to support S25 and HR25, the Freedom of Choice Act.
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