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Eye On Boise

Labrador decries decision in Texas abortion clinic case; Piotrowski says it protects women’s health

Idaho 1st District Congressman Raul Labrador and his Democratic challenger, James Piotrowski, had sharply differing reactions to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling today in a Texas case, which the Washington Post called the court’s most important decision on abortion-related issues in 25 years. Labrador said he was “deeply disappointed” with the court’s decision; Piotrowski said the decision protects women’s health.

The court, in a 5-3 decision, struck down restrictions on Texas abortion clinics that have forced most of the state’s clinics to close, including requiring doctors at the clinics to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital and requiring clinics to meet surgical-center standards; similar restrictions are in place in a number of other states. The court ruled that the restrictions don’t protect women’s health, instead imposing an “undue burden” on their ability to seek abortions.

Here is Labrador’s statement:

“I am deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court has sided with the abortion industry and erased health and safety protections for innocent women and unborn children. This decision means abandoning common-sense clinical standards and the perpetuation of abuse and negligence. Today’s decision is a stark reminder of the importance of electing a new president who will appoint conservative justices to the Court.”

Here is Piotrowski’s statement:

“Women’s health clinics in Idaho provide critical services, particularly in our small, rural communities. Attempts to shut down those clinics — like they tried in Texas — would only hurt Idahoans seeking care in areas where there is already a shortage of qualified medical professionals. This decision was right for the women of Idaho, and the U.S. Women’s health should not be a partisan, political issue. Mr. Labrador is out of touch on women’s health issues, just like Donald Trump.”



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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