Louisiana AG Landry Confident His State Will Remain Pro-Life, by J.M. Phelps
De-Developing and Dehumanizing the United States, by Terence P. Jeffrey
February 13, 2019
Finding Fulfillment and Joy as a Religious, by Sr. Christina M. Neumann
February 13, 2019
By J.M. Phelps, OneNewsNow, February 12, 2019
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).
Landry“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.”
Landry’s comments on …The Supreme Court ruling last week: “It’s important to know that they didn’t actually rule on any of the merits of the case. They only ruled on whether or not the law would go into effect after the Fifth Circuit ruled that the law was constitutional.” Roberts’ siding with the liberal justices in not allowing the law to go into effect: “I would caution people on any criticism of the Chief Justice. This may be a peek at Roberts wanting a second bite at the apple now that the court makeup has changed.” Comparison of Texas’ law with Louisiana’s law: “Texas law was a little more stringent from a geographic standpoint and a time constraint standpoint in regards to admitting privileges. [The Louisiana law] allows for more leeway in admitting privileges of the doctor who wants to perform abortions.” Opponents’ objection to requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges: “In any medical procedure under which the patient is mildly sedated, doctors are required in Louisiana to have admitting privileges. It goes to show you how the left has been so successful in creating inconsistencies in our healthcare law …. While [liberals] argue that abortion is something that protects the rights of women, this law actually protects the rights of women from a healthcare perspective – and yet they’re opposed to it.” AG Jeff Landry made these |
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.”
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