In an interview with The Tennessee Star, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn shared her jubilance at the victory won by pro-life advocates when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and looked at the path forward for the state legislatures as they tackle the question of what limits to impose on abortion.
“First of all the overturning of Roe, setting that aside, is something that is a victory for all the pro-life volunteers that have worked tirelessly for decades. They have worked to create a culture of life. They have worked to educate people,” she said.
“They have shown how science is on the side of life, when you can see a baby develop through a sonogram. They have put a lot of effort into that and I have been so pleased to support them in these efforts. I’m just so pleased that they have seen victory come from their many, many years of hard work. They should celebrate that,” she added.
Senator Blackburn talked about what the overturning of Roe v. Wade really does and what to look at from the states, who are now back in charge of abortion regulations.
“When you read the writing of the justices you see that they fully believed that this is an issue that should go back to the states for the people and their elected representatives to decide what the regulations and restrictions around abortion are going to be,” the senator said.
“What we will see is that in the various states, some of them have trigger laws. You’re going to see the states work through this process. As laws go on the books or either as they put laws forward – as they begin the deliberation process to change their existing laws. I think for state legislatures this next year is going to be a busy year as they put these provisions in place,” Blackburn said.
The Star asked Senator Blackburn what the public should look for in terms of federal involvement in abortion in the wake of the Dobbs decision.
“Of course the regulations and restrictions, that is going to the states,” she emphasized. “There’s going to be the opportunity at the federal level to really focus in on the funding issue, to be sure that no taxpayer dollars are used.”
Blackburn used the restoration of the Hyde Amendment and the Mexico City Policy as examples of the federal work that can be done to further the pro-life cause.
“As pro-life legislation is needed and is presented, those of us who have worked tirelessly for life issues are going to be there to support that legislation,” she said.
Senator Blackburn additionally shared steps that need to be taken to stop rogue federal government agencies from violating the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe.
“What we’re going to do is watch very carefully the actions of the agencies. Of course, oversight is something that we have the opportunity to do. Lawsuits, if they are necessary, are another avenue that we can travel,” she explained.
“Our goal is to be sure that every step that gets taken complies with what the Supreme Court has said and to make certain that there is that opportunity for the states to move in and put these regulations and restrictions around the practice of abortion,” Blackburn added.
Blackburn sponsored and supported many pieces of legislation aimed at stopping taxpayer dollars from going to fund abortions.
The first piece of legislation Senator Blackburn introduced after she was sworn into the U.S. Senate sought to close the federal funding loophole that allowed “Big Abortion providers like Planned Parenthood to receive family planning grants. Shortly after introducing her legislation, President Trump issued new regulations disqualifying family planning clinics with co-located abortion services from participating in the Title X program.”
Blackburn notes she has held Planned Parenthood accountable. According to her website, “As Chairman of the Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives, Senator Blackburn’s work led to 15 criminal referrals related to late-term abortionists, abortion clinics, and tissue procurement businesses.”
She also frequently supports legislation to defund Planned Parenthood.
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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]. Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, Truth Social, and Parler.
Photo “Marsha Blackburn” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0. Background Photo “U.S. Supreme Court” by TexasGOPVote.com. CC BY 2.0.
