Gov Wolf, More Affirm Reproductive Rights Support In Narberth

NARBERTH, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf and Attorney General Josh Shapiro visited Narberth Thursday to discussion the state legislature's proposed anti-abortion legislation.

Wolf and Shapiro joined State Reps. Mary Jo Daley and Morgan Cephas and State Sen. Amanda Cappeletti — who are members of the Women’s Health Caucus — as well as Erica Goldblatt Hyatt, in calling for protecting women's reproductive rights and the option for abortion in Narberth Park.

State Republicans, who control the legislature, advanced three bills regarding abortions recently.

One would outlaw abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, possibly as early as six weeks. However, the bill has exceptions for when an abortion is medically necessary to protect the mother. Another prohibits abortions when unborn children are diagnosed with Down syndrome. And the last requires medical facilities to disclose burial options for miscarriages and abortions.

Wolf said these bills undermine the doctor-patient relationship and women's reproductive healthcare.

"We all stand together here supporting women’s rights to make their own health decisions," Wolf said Thursday. "These bills hurt the very same people they claim to protect."

Wolf has promised to veto any anti-abortion that comes across his desk, saying politics does not belong in a doctor's office.

"One in four women will an abortion in their life," Shapiro said. "Yet we are seeing a sustained assault on the fundamental right to reproductive health across this country and the latest battle has come to Pennsylvania."

Shapiro called bills such as those above dangerous and said he's prepared to act in defense of reproductive rights.

"I'm confident we can win in court because we've won every time," Shapiro said of combatting anti-abortion legislation in the state.

However, he said the willing for the Supreme Court of the United States to hear an abortion case could jeopardize federal abortion legislation and subsequently lead to states having more control over reproductive rights.

Cephas (D - 192nd District) said Republican colleagues are wasting time and taxpayer money on anti-abortion legislation.

She said being pro-life should mean caring about children's access to clean water, hunger, exposure to lead and asbestos, and quality education.

"We need our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to move on a serious agenda that doesn't take us back to 1960," she said. "Let's stop wasting time and taxpayer dollars and get on with the business of improving the lives of Pennsylvanians."

Cappeletti (D - 17th Senatorial District) said hearings on these bills took more than 13 hours and only served to "shame patients and abortion providers and to further the national attack on reproductive rights."

She said discussions regarding abortions do not belong in the general assembly and should stay between patients and their doctors.

Daly (D - 148th District) said with a gubernatorial election slated for 2022, Pennsylvania needs a governor willing to stand up for women's rights the same way Wolf has.