Chris Smith: “Some lawmakers continue to ignore, trivialize, or deny the fact that abortion activists plan to aggressively use the…”

“Some lawmakers continue to ignore, trivialize, or deny the fact that abortion activists plan to aggressively use the Federal ERA--as they have used State ERAs--in a litigation strategy designed to overturn pro-life laws and policies, including restrictions supported by huge majorities of Americans. As the Marist Poll found recently in January: Seven in 10 Americans, including nearly half who identify as pro-choice, want significant restrictions on abortions. While I fundamentally disagree with abortion activists who refuse to recognize an unborn child's inherent dignity, worth and value, many on both sides now agree that how the ERA is written will be used in court to massively promote abortion. NARAL Pro-Choice America said the ERA would ``reinforce the constitutional right to abortion'' and ``require judges to strike down anti-abortion laws.'' The National Organization for Women said: ``An ERA--properly interpreted--could negate the hundreds of laws that have been passed restricting access to abortion. . . .'' Those laws include the Hyde amendment, waiting periods, parental involvement statutes, women's right-to-know laws, conscience rights, and late term abortion ban, like the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. By now, my colleagues know that the Supreme Court of New Mexico ruled that the State was required--required to fund abortion, based solely on the State ERA.…”