Joint Statement From NY Governor, Lt. Gov And First Lady On 35th Anniversary Of Roe V. Wade

Article continues below...

January 22, 2008 --"Today we recall the 35th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, in which the United States Supreme Court upheld the right of a woman to make the fundamental decision of whether and when to bear a child. This anniversary not only offers us an opportunity to reflect on the past 35 years, but the responsibility to look ahead and ask what we must do to continue to protect a woman’s right to control her own reproductive health decisions here in New York.

Today we reaffirm our commitment that, despite attacks that seek to infringe upon the protections embodied in Roe v. Wade, women in New York will continue to have the right to make their own reproductive health decisions.

Many Americans believe that as long as the Roe v. Wade decision is not overruled, then a woman’s right to privacy and the ability to make personal healthcare choices will be protected. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The politicization of women’s reproductive health has resulted in a crusade to undermine not only the constitutional protections Roe v. Wade recognizes, but some have even sought to interfere with the ability of women to obtain birth control, including emergency contraception.

The decision to become a parent is a deeply personal one and, for some women, a complex and difficult medical decision. We have always believed such a sensitive and personal decision should only be made privately by a woman and the counsel that she chooses to seek."

Source: New York Governor