New Lawsuit Challenges State Bans on Abortion Pills
New York TimesDec 01, 2022
The Facts
Two lawsuits challenging state restrictions on abortion medication were filed on Wednesday, the first suits of this kind since SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the federal constitutional right to the procedure.
Both lawsuits argue that state limits on drugs usurp the federal authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has deemed the abortion pill, mifepristone, as safe and effective.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Biden’s pro-abortion agenda is seeking to destroy the states' rights created by the overturning of Roe v. Wade. When the president signed an order to "protect access to medication abortion" immediately after the ruling in June, he opened up states, which now have the constitutional right to regulate abortions, to lawsuits of this type. The courts must follow SCOTUS' lead and protect the sovereignty of the states.
Democratic narrative
Federal law has overarching authority over state laws, and state regulations cannot constitutionally contradict or interfere with that authority. The states have to be held to this standard; otherwise, a slippery slope could form, leading to state restrictions on other approved drugs, such as COVID vaccines and the morning-after pill.
