By J.M. Phelps (One News Now)
Notwithstanding a current legal battle, Louisiana remains one of the most pro-life states in the nation – and a determined attorney general plans to keep it that way.
While Chief Justice John Roberts appears to have become the Supreme Court’s new swing vote, he split away last week from the court’s other conservative justices and his previous position on abortion, joining the liberal bloc in halting a Louisiana law that would require abortion providers to have admitting privileges at local hospital facilities.
Pro-life Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry tells OneNewsNow he has vowed to continue the fight for life. In his first point, he expresses great disappointment there is even a discussion over the Unsafe Abortion Protection Act (Act 620).
“The fact of the matter is that with any other type of procedure that you have in the state of Louisiana, [whether] invasive or the doctor has to utilize a mild sedative, [the] doctor is required by law to have admitting privileges,” Landry offers.
However, he explains, in the case of abortion – which he describes as a “very invasive” procedure – doctors are not required to have admitting privileges, creating what he calls a “double standard” in healthcare. He asserts Act 620 is consistent with the way healthcare is regulated in Louisiana and re-emphasizes “we shouldn’t even be having this discussion.”
In 2014, State Representative Katrina Jackson (D) authored Act 620, which achieved overwhelming bipartisan support from Louisiana’s legislature. Act 620 passed by an 88-5 vote in the House and, one week later, on a 34-3 vote in the Senate.
Last Thursday, Supreme Court justices voted 5-4 to temporarily delay the implementation of the law until the high court issues a final ruling. Although it remains uncertain how Justice Brett Kavanaugh would vote on a broader case like Roe v. Wade, he wrote the only dissent from the high court’s stay order. Trump’s newest high-court appointee argued the court should have allowed the law to take effect.
In his second point, Landry says he was not surprised by the Supreme Court’s decision to suspend the law. He believes “they want to take a careful look as to whether … they want to review the law or not.” He considers this a necessary step prior to any potential for the case to be argued before the Supreme Court.
The AG’s point aligns with that of Louisiana Right to Life, which described an earlier temporary block by Associate Justice Samuel Alito as “wise” and “thoughtful” and allows SCOTUS to consider the ramifications of the decision in Louisiana and beyond. Likewise, The Heritage Foundation says last week’s vote by Roberts is a common tactic used by judges “to preserve the status quo” while litigation is pending.
In summary, Landry admits “[he has] always stood for life,” adding that “without life, there can be no liberty.”
J.M. Phelps is a Christian activist and journalist based in the Southeastern U.S. He is also editor and publisher of the website Lantern of Liberty.
Originally published by One News Now on Tuesday, February 12, 2019.
This column is printed with permission. Opinions expressed in columns published by Lantern of Liberty are the sole responsibility of the article’s author(s), or of the person(s) or organization(s) quoted therein, and do not necessarily represent those of the staff or management of, or advertisers who support Lantern of Liberty.
