DES MOINES, Iowa – Members of Iowa’s Congressional Delegation weighed in on Politico‘s report of a leaked draft Supreme Court opinion that overturns Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
Last fall, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Center Organization, a challenge to Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, and is expected to issue a ruling in June.
“For nearly half a century, the Roe v. Wade decision has allowed for the destruction of innocent life in America. I am incredibly encouraged that the Supreme Court appears to finally recognize the injustice this misguided decision has caused and I remain committed to protecting all life. I am also concerned that private Supreme Court deliberations appear to have leaked. I pray for the Justices, their safety, and their courage to do the right thing and overturn Roe v. Wade once and for all,” U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, said in a released statement.
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, expressed a similar sentiment.
“The leak of a pending United States Supreme Court decision is a betrayal of our democratic institutions and an attempt to undermine our Federal Judiciary System that must be investigated immediately. The integrity of the Supreme Court and its longstanding independence must be protected,” she said.
“If the Supreme Court does in fact rule as the leaked draft suggests, it would be a long-overdue return to fidelity to the text of our Constitution and places this issue back at the hands of the states. As an elected official, I have always voted to uphold the sanctity of life and to protect the unborn. Every life is precious and has value, and I am committed to continuing to fight for those who cannot stand up for themselves,” Miller-Meeks added in her statement.
U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, expressed concern about the potential decision and called for the U.S. Senate to codify Roe. However, she was silent about the leak itself.
“Depriving a woman of the right to make her own medical decisions is dangerous and shortsighted. We already know laws that restrict access to health care do not result in fewer abortions, but instead force women to risk their lives and seek unsafe care,” she said in a released statement.
“Late last year I voted with a majority of my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would guarantee a nationwide right to reproductive choices for women – a right supported by nearly 50 years of U.S. Supreme Court precedent. Upon hearing the news the Supreme Court may soon decide to upend that precedent, I’m calling on the Senate to respond with urgency and pass legislation to codify Roe v. Wade immediately,” Axne added.
“Women have been empowered to make their own decisions about their bodies and reproductive rights for nearly half a century, and I will not stand idly by and let decades of progress slip away.”
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, told The Iowa Torch that the leak was “deeply troubling.”
“It’s deeply concerning to me. The leak was unprecedented. All signs indicate that the leak was an attempt to intimidate the court number one, and pressure justices number two,” she said during her press call on Thursday. “So I am glad that they’re going to be launching an investigation at the Supreme Court. Whoever is responsible should be held accountable because this will have an incredible cooling effect on the conversations needed for our justices to be able to really vet these policies and come up with court decisions that are absolutely critical to our nation. And we need to make sure they have the independence to do that.”
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, addressed the leak but not the potential opinion on Twitter.
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, in a statement emailed to The Iowa Torch, said that the leak was abhorrent.
“This unprecedented leak is abhorrent, and whoever did it must be found and held accountable, and I’m glad the Court is investigating,” she said. “As someone who is adamantly pro-life, I believe firmly that the Supreme Court must go through its proper and independent processes and deliberations on this case and I look forward to reviewing their final decision.”
