TEXAS — A bombshell report from Politico Monday night suggests the U.S. Supreme Court is prepared to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. While the draft from Justice Samuel Alito is authentic, it does not represent the final decision of the court.
The fall of Roe would automatically trigger a law in Texas and similar laws in 12 other states that would all but ban abortion in those states.
Not surprisingly, reaction to the news fell right along party lines.
Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz tweeted that if the story is true, the decision will be “a massive victory for life and will save the lives of millions of innocent babies.”
Beto O’Rourke, the current Democratic candidate for Texas governor, former congressman and onetime Cruz challenger, tweeted that if he’s elected in November, he will protect a woman’s right to choose.
Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for reelection and will face challenger George P. Bush in the primary runoff election in a few weeks, echoed Cruz’s statement.
Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar called on the U.S. Senate to codify Roe v. Wade before it’s too late.
Texas Alliance for Life brought up the Texas law that would be triggered if Roe were to fall.
Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas tweeted a reminder that it continues to provide abortions when permitted under the state’s strict current law and aids women who seek the procedure out of state.