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The
Alito Factor For the second time in less than six months, and on the eve of the 33rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we find ourselves standing face to face with an uncertain and troubling future for reproductive rights.
The confirmation process for replacing Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is well under way as this goes to print, and in these first few days it seems inevitable that Judge Samuel Alito will be the next member of the Supreme Court. His possible confirmation, with a clear record of opposition to constitutional protections for women's health and the right to choose, is distressing to Planned Parenthood because he is nominated to replace a moderate conservative who has played a pivotal role on the court in safeguarding reproductive rights. We have heard a great deal in the media about abortion and the next Supreme Court Justice. However, the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade addresses far more than abortion. Roe confirms privacy rights, protects women's health and expands equality for women in allowing them to determine their own reproductive destiny. Justice Harry Blackmun, the author of Roe, appropriately described it as "a step that had to be taken as we go down the road toward the full emancipation of women." Justice Blackmun's comments give us a stark contrast to those of Alito, who has written that some forms of birth control should be considered abortion, a view that is at odds with science and held by only the most extreme opponents of reproductive rights. He has also supported state-level restrictions that make it more difficult for women, especially poor women, to access abortion services. To top off the list, he promoted laws that would require health and disability insurers to offer policies that exclude abortion coverage. Sitting on the bench of the Third Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Alito was the lone vote to uphold Pennsylvania's husband notification requirement, which would have required women of that state — even some abused women — to notify their husbands prior to obtaining an abortion. Compare that to the position taken by Justice O'Connor on the same case before the U.S. Supreme Court, when she stated, "Women do not lose their constitutionally protected liberty when they marry."
Here at home in Oregon, Planned Parenthood has been working to educate the public about Samuel Alito and the future of reproductive rights, a challenge that sometimes seems larger than we ever imagined. Just last week Planned Parenthood volunteers were on the campus of a state university encouraging passers-by to contact Sens. Wyden and Smith regarding Alito, and were asked, "What's a lito?" That may indicate we have a long way to go, but we're here for the long haul. Planned Parenthood is participating in activities and events with coalition partners around the state to highlight the importance of the Supreme Court vacancy, while also planning for our annual evening of celebration and reflection on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. This year's event, being held at the Downtown Athletic Club on Jan. 21, will feature an evening of music, poetry, activism and optimism. We are optimistic that Oregon will remain a safe state where women are valued as equal members of our society, where we work together to prevent unintended pregnancies while also protecting the right to safe, legal abortion. We hope you will join us for the evening's events. For more information call 342-6042 ext. 31 or contact us at publicaffairs@pphsso.org Kellie Shoemaker is the vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood Health Services of Southwestern Oregon.
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