Voters back abortion rights, but some opponents won't relent. Is the commitment to democracy in question?

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Voters back abortion rights, but some opponents won’t relent. Is the commitment to democracy in question?

BY JULIE CARR SMYTH AND CHRISTINE FERNANDO
Updated 7:40 AM EST, November 19, 2023

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The statewide battles over abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a constitutional right to abortion have exposed another fault line: the commitment to democracy.

As voters in state after state affirm their support for abortion rights, opponents are acting with escalating defiance toward the democratic processes and institutions they perceive as aligned against their cause.

Certain Republican elected officials and anti-abortion activists around the country have responded to losses at the ballot box by challenging election results, refusing to bring state laws into line with voter-backed changes, moving to strip state courts of their power to consider abortion-related laws and challenging the citizen-led ballot initiative process itself.

“We.Are.Not.Done.,” Ohio state Rep. Jennifer Gross declared on the social media platform X two days after voters enshrined the right to abortion in the state constitution earlier this month. She and 25 other Republican lawmakers vowed to block the amendment from reversing Ohio’s existing abortion restrictions.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/abortion-democracy-threats-republicans-ballot-initiatives-ohio-3d6e2f0d0f5993ddd75522b662d2eb34

[T_A]

1. NAH

She and 25 other Republican lawmakers vowed to block the amendment from reversing Ohio’s existing abortion restrictions.

They can't.

At some point the reality that the constitution is supreme to state laws will smack them in the face.

[machoneman]

2. Let them all move to say Texas, build that wall around it, and do whatever they like. Leave us alone!

[ShazzieB]

3. Wtf does this even mean (the part in bold)?

A strong majority of Ohio voters passed the amendment, by roughly 57% to 43%. In response, the group of lawmakers said in a joint statement: “We will do everything in our power to prevent our laws from being removed based upon perception of intent.”

Based upon perception of intent? We know EXACTLY what your "intent" is: to outlaw abortion!

[SouthernDem4ever]

4. Right-wing lawmakers disregard laws

From the Congress to the statehouses, we have far too many politicians who won't uphold their constitution or the rule of law. When are these idiot judges going to wake up and realize that pretty soon, they will be insignificant?