By Staff Report
On today’s one-year anniversary of the Dobbs Decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, the reproductive rights issue remains a Republican versus Democratic divide in New Hampshire.
Radio personality and political pundit Arnie Arnesen said the ruling “brought chaos to women, their health, their families, and their very being.
Arnesen asked people to tune in to her radio show Saturday, today, to wnhnfm.org at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.
“…to hear OUR BODIES OUR STORIES OUR VOTES. Women tell their stories of abortion, their choices and acceptance. On the dial in Concord NH at 94.7fm and streaming live at wnhnfm.org.”
Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington, D-Concord, who is running for governor, said the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade set reproductive freedom back over half a century.
“This devastating ruling eliminated the federal right to abortion and here in New Hampshire, Republicans have also defunded reproductive health care providers across the state, including Planned Parenthood.
“Despite the fact that 71% of Granite Staters support abortion rights, Gov. Chris Sununu has refused calls to protect abortion access in our state law,” Warmington said.
Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, who has announced an exploratory committee for a possible gubernatorial run, said the Dobbs decision opened the door for “anti-abortion Republicans to strip away the fundamental freedom to make our own health care decisions.
“Without any state laws protecting abortion access in New Hampshire, it’s now on each and every one of us to protect reproductive freedom. In Manchester, we will continue to support our family and reproductive health care providers so that patients across New Hampshire can access the health care they need. Access to abortion is a fundamental right and I will continue to defend that right for all Granite Staters,” Craig said.
Following the Dobbs decision, Mayor Craig joined mayors from across the country to call for protections for abortion access in the United States. As mayor, Joyce Craig has supported inclusive reproductive rights and health care for all Granite Staters.
New Hampshire’s all-Democratic Congressional Delegation – Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Maggie Hassan, Congresswoman Annie Kuster, and Congressman Chris Pappas released the following statement:
“…From state legislators to the 2024 GOP presidential hopefuls flocking to court New Hampshire voters, Republicans at every level of government have spent the past year pushing to criminalize abortion, punish doctors, and undermine the right to privacy — all while women and families suffer. These attacks on abortion access are dangerous and fundamentally at odds with the freedom we cherish here in the pro-choice state of New Hampshire.”
Republican Gov. Chris Sununu responded in an email: “I have made clear I support codifying Roe v. Wade into law, and stand ready to sign a bill once it reaches my desk.
“Democrat leaders should stop trying to scare and mislead people. Access to women’s health care in New Hampshire today is the same as it was before the Dobbs decision, and our laws virtually mirror the rest of New England,” Sununu said.
House Majority Leader Jason Osborne, R-Auburn, released the following statement after House and Senate Democrats held a press conference Friday to “once again, falsely lead Granite Staters to believe they cannot receive an abortion in New Hampshire.
“Today Democrats in the House and the Senate once again made the argument that we must ‘codify Roe v Wade’ into New Hampshire law. We should not be in the business of codifying laws just to make Democrats feel more included. They had the opportunity to participate in the codification of our 24 weeks of abortion choice. What the Democrats are trying to do is akin to putting an extra period at the end of a sentence.” Osborne said.
“This notion that we must change our laws or issue an Executive Order to protect what is already legal is nonsensical. Citizens should never have to seek permission from the government to access already legal medical procedures. If we are going to start down that road, I will expect to see bills filed next term to allow giving birth, obtaining a knee replacement, or having a cavity filled,” Osborne said.
Kayla Montgomery, Vice President for Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund, released the following statement:
“In the year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Granite Staters have resolutely expressed outrage and urged their elected officials to protect abortion rights. Despite some legislative progress, New Hampshire remains the only state in New England without proactive protections for abortion rights in our state law or constitution.
“The fact is, the majority of the state Senate thwarted bipartisan legislation to add abortion rights to state law and Governor Chris Sununu has refused to take a single action to protect reproductive freedom – even as a Texas judge threatens access to medication abortion nationwide, including in New Hampshire,” Montgomery said.
At a press conference in front of the State House Friday and in a letter to Gov. Sununu, Democratic leaders asked him to help protect abortion rights in the state.
“As we approach one year since the United States Supreme Court overturned nearly 50 years of
precedent in the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, we are asking you to
work with us to protect abortion rights in New Hampshire,” the letter said to Sununu.
“For the past two years, New Hampshire Democrats have worked to mitigate the harm of our state’s first abortion ban in modern history. Last year, we championed and successfully passed legislation to add a critical exception for a fatal fetal diagnosis to this ban and to remove the unnecessary and harmful mandatory ultrasound provision for all abortion care. Thank you for signing those critical provisions into law.
“Unfortunately, we still do not have anything in our state law protecting the right to an abortion before 24 weeks – and with Roe v. Wade overturned, there are no federal constitutional protections. In short: Granite Staters currently have no statutory right or protection for an abortion prior to 24 weeks,” the letter stated.
The letter was signed by Sen. Donna Soucy, Rep. Matt Wilhelm, Sen. Rebecca Whitley, Rep. Alexis Simpson, Sen. Suzanne Prentiss, Rep. Karen Ebel, Rep. Lucy Weber, Sen. Shannon Chandley, Rep. Sharon Nordgren, Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, Rep. Mary Jane Wallner, Rep. Laura Telerski.