Rep. Ron Estes: Overturning Roe v. Wade was the right call for Kansas, other states
The Supreme Court – the highest court in our judiciary system – has reversed Roe v. Wade.
So what does life look like now that we live in a post-Roe America?
Let’s lay out the facts of what’s happened. Reversing Roe v. Wade did not ban abortions in the United States. It simply affirmed what many constitutional scholars have recognized since 1973 — the Roe decision was weak, far too overreaching and invented a constitutional right to an abortion that doesn’t exist.
Whether you are pro-life or pro-abortion, the actual opinion of Roe just doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Even still, its reversal doesn’t end abortions, but returns abortion regulation to each state and its democratically elected representatives.
Additionally, reversing a Supreme Court decision is not unprecedented. In the 230 years of opinions, there have been some erroneous decisions overturned by later courts – more than 300, in fact. Kansans are likely familiar with Brown v. Board of Education, a critical milestone in equal rights that reversed Plessy v. Ferguson and ended that decision’s “separate but equal” doctrine.
There’s more scientific data now, too. We now know that an unborn baby has a heartbeat of approximately 98 beats per minute at six weeks. Ultrasounds show us the developing fingers and toes by week 10, and inside those forming bodies are all of the major organs at 15 weeks. And scientists are finding that those preborn babies can feel pain at the 15- or 20-week mark.
That’s in addition to the tremendous scientific advances we’ve made in modern medicine. More and more babies born prematurely can survive and thrive thanks to exceptional research and caring doctors and nurses, even as early as 21 weeks of gestation.
But beyond the stats and facts are how this life-changing decision will direct policy for decades.
An astonishing 80% of Americans recently said that abortion should be illegal in the third trimester. It’s rare that 80% of Americans would agree on anything today. Another 58% don’t want taxpayer-funded abortions in the U.S., and 77% don’t want our tax dollars funding abortions in other countries.
Elected state legislatures can work toward implementing policies that follow the science and represent their constituents’ beliefs on this subject.
Most Americans don’t subscribe to the radical ideas of the left and the mammoth abortion industry — and even many Democrats don’t want unlimited, taxpayer-funded abortions. But unfortunately some have changed their tune to fall in line with extremists.
Then-Sen. Joe Biden said in 1974, “I don’t like the Supreme Court decision on abortion. I think it went too far.” His policies today have included reversing the Mexico City Policy, which now allows U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund abortions in foreign countries, and he’s signaled that he’ll remove restrictions on funding organizations that consider abortion routine family planning through Title X.
The rhetoric also doesn’t match reality. The rhetoric from a former Democratic House member, Katie Hill, tweeted after the May Supreme Court leak, “Hard to believe that girls being born today will have fewer rights than those born fifty years ago.” The reality is that for nearly 50 years, the rights of more than 60 million boys and girls were snuffed out before they even had a chance at life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. More girls will actually have rights because they will have life.
Kansas has a long history in the pro-life movement, and the recent Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision will certainly electrify both sides of the issue, but the fact is that there is life after Roe.
Everyday people in states across the country have had their voices restored and will be able to use their constitutional right to enact common sense laws and regulations that fit their values.
Many Kansans tell me they value both mothers and babies — they value life — and reversing Roe ensures that life can be protected here in Kansas and across the country.
Ron Estes, of Wichita, is the U.S. representative for the 4th Kansas Congressional District
