OREGON
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2022
THE OBSERVER — A7
Oregon will retain abortion rights
despite U.S. Supreme Court ruling
The governors of
states on West Coast
pledge to protect
abortion rights
By GARY WARNER
Oregon Capital Bureau
SALEM — The governors of
California, Oregon, and Wash-
ington on Friday, June 24, pledged
to maintain access to abortions
and other reproductive health care
following the U.S. Supreme Court
decision radically revising the Roe
v. Wade ruling.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said
the 6-3 decision handed down
June 24 by the U.S. Supreme
Court in the case of Dobbs v.
Jackson Women’s Health Organi-
zation means about 33.6 million
women now fi nd abortion illegal
or inaccessible.
“Abortion is health care, and
no matter who you are or where
you come from, Oregon doesn’t
turn away anyone seeking health
care — Period,” Brown said in a
statement. “Let me be clear: You
cannot ban abortion, you can only
ban safe abortions — and this dis-
graceful Supreme Court decision
will undoubtedly put many peo-
ple’s lives at risk.”
The position was endorsed by
California Gov. Gavin Newsom
and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee,
both Democrats.
Former House Minority Leader
Christine Drazan, the Repub-
lican nominee for governor of
Oregon in 2022, said that if
elected she would veto legislation
to strengthen the state’s abortion
access laws.
“Despite the U.S. Supreme
Court’s decision, Oregon will
continue to have among the most
extreme abortion laws in the
country and around the world. As
governor, I will stand up for life
by vetoing legislation designed to
push Oregon further outside the
Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
On Monday, May 2, 2022, a leaked Supreme Court initial draft majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade inspired panic and protest among supporters of legal abortion and
preliminary celebration for opponents of Roe v. Wade. Then, on June 24, the Supreme Court released its ruling and Roe offi cially fell.
mainstream.”
Former House Speaker Tina
Kotek, D-Portland, the 2022
Democratic nominee for governor,
slammed the ruling and said she
would take an opposite approach
to Drazan.
“Our right to control our own
bodies and futures has been
gutted,” she said. “I’m furious.”
Kotek called on abortion rights
supporters to turn out for the
November elections.
“Make no mistake: Reproduc-
tive freedom is on the ballot in
Oregon this year,” she said.
Betsy Johnson, the former
Democratic state senator
launching an unaffi liated bid for
governor, said the right to choose
abortion was a “bedrock” issue
for her and the state.
“I am pro-choice,” she said.
“As Oregon’s independent gov-
ernor, I will always defend
and protect a woman’s right to
choose.”
In 1969, Oregon became one
of the fi rst states to legalize some
form of abortion.
Modeled after a British statute,
the state law approved by the Leg-
islature allowed legal abortions
during the fi rst 150 days after
conception.
The patient had to be an
Oregon resident and the proce-
dure was limited to cases of rape,
severe handicaps or danger to
the mother’s physical or mental
health. The procedure could
only be done in a hospital by a
physician.
The state’s early adoption of
abortion rights became a ral-
lying issue for Oregon Right to
Life, which posts on its web-
site: “Oregon is the only state in
America with NO protective pro-
life laws. Oregon also legalized
abortion before Roe v. Wade.”
Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter, File
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Friday,
June 24, 2022, in a statement on the
6-3 decision handed down by the U.S.
Supreme Court that radically revises
Roe v. Wade, said, “Abortion is health
care, and no matter who you are or
where you come from, Oregon doesn’t
turn away anyone seeking health care.”