Earlier this week, Senate Bill 8—also known as the Heartbeat Act—went into effect in Texas, banning abortions after six weeks and further criminalizing anyone who aids or abets an abortion after that time, incentivizing neighbors to report suspicious abortions with a bounty of up to $10 thousand.
Six weeks is long before the stage of fetal viability, making the law unconstitutional under the precedent set by Roe v. Wade, and yet the conservative Supreme Court declined to intervene to halt the law, all but confirming the nation's worst fears that the Court will be willing to overturn the landmark ruling when the opportunity comes.
President Joe Biden's administration decried the Court's failure to intervene, saying in a statement:
"The Texas law will significantly impair women's access to the health care they need, particularly for communities of color and individuals with low incomes. And, outrageously, it deputizes private citizens to bring lawsuits against anyone who they believe has helped another person get an abortion, which might even include family members, health care workers, front desk staff at a health care clinic, or strangers with no connection to the individual."
White House press secretary Jen Psaki, in a daily briefing, elaborated on Biden's position after EWTN White House correspondent Owen Jensen pressed her on the dissonance between Biden's Catholic faith and his stance on abortion access.
Watch below.
.@PressSec to male reporter on abortion: "I know you\u2019ve never faced those choices nor have you ever been pregnant but for women out there who have faced those choices this is an incredibly difficult thing. The president believes that right should be respected."pic.twitter.com/l4zTzlW1Tq— CSPAN (@CSPAN) 1630608090
When asked by Jensen who Biden believes should "look after the unborn child," Psaki—a mother of two—said:
"He believes that it's up to a woman to make those decisions, and up to a woman to make those decisions with her doctor. I know you've never faced those choices nor have you ever been pregnant but for women out there who have faced those choices this is an incredibly difficult thing. The president believes that right should be respected."
Her answer was praised across social media.
Tell it @PressSec!https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1433500348623241219\u00a0\u2026— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@Rep. Pramila Jayapal) 1630634856
Jen Psaki forever gather these right-wing reporters.pic.twitter.com/dy0P56aiAd— Chanteezy \ud83d\udc9b\u2649\ufe0f (@Chanteezy \ud83d\udc9b\u2649\ufe0f) 1630635606
Yes. This It\u2019s time for men to stop telling women what to do.https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1433500348623241219\u00a0\u2026— Nanette D. Barrag\u00e1n (@Nanette D. Barrag\u00e1n) 1630641455
Listen... Don't come for our @PressSec unless she sends for you.https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1433500348623241219\u00a0\u2026— Alyson Fouse (@Alyson Fouse) 1630611134
This woman\u2026she\u2019s so good.https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1433500348623241219\u00a0\u2026— Lbui0615 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Lbui0615 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1630610786
Another mic drop moment brought to us by @PressSec https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1433500348623241219\u00a0\u2026— Becky Carroll (@Becky Carroll) 1630619807
The Texas law continues to spark urgent concerns nationwide.
The Supreme Court\u2019s decision yesterday was substantively outrageous. It\u2019s clear that Texas state law is in direct conflict with Roe v. Wade and @PPFA v. Casey. Congress must turn Roe\u2019s constitutional standard into law.pic.twitter.com/3OgXKY5CnI— Rep. Jamie Raskin (@Rep. Jamie Raskin) 1630678034
1 in 5 children in Texas is facing hunger, but they\u2019re willing to pay you $10k for harassing every person you feel may be involved in an abortion.— Lauren Ashcraft \ud83d\udc9c (@Lauren Ashcraft \ud83d\udc9c) 1630674050
Imagine if California passed a law banning firearms and outsourced enforcement to the public. If you catch a person with a firearm, you sue them and if you win you get 10K. Sure it violates the constitution but *shrug*\n\nThat's what's happening with abortion in Texas right now.— Imani Gandy (@Imani Gandy) 1630468432
In light of the Court's refusal to intervene, there are growing calls for Congress to expand the number of seats.
