Abortion Restrictions (Letter to the Editor, The New York Times, November 10, 2010)
By Nancy Northup – President, Center for Reproductive Rights
The New York Times, November 10, 2010 Nancy Northup, President, Center for Reproductive Rights
To the Editor:
Re “Now in Power, G.O.P. Vows Cuts in State Budgets” (front page, Nov. 8):
There’s no question that the Republican takeover of state capitols across the country means that anti-choice legislators will more aggressively push through abortion restrictions next year. But it also means that many of these states will be wasting time and resources in lengthy court battles.
Every year, more than 600 anti-choice bills are proposed by state legislatures, and plenty pass. In many cases, these laws violate the Constitution, and courts enjoin their enforcement and award attorneys’ fees.
Since 2008, the Center for Reproductive Rights has filed 13 new cases in nine states to beat back these attacks. And from Arizona to Louisiana, we’ve succeeded in permanently or temporarily blocking enforcement of most of them.
States worried about wasteful government spending should think twice about enacting these unconstitutional laws.
Nancy Northup
