STATEHOUSE (April 7, 2022) – A letter recently sent to the governor includes the names of local lawmakers who are urging him to call a special session if the U.S. Supreme Court completely or partially overturns Roe v. Wade.
The nation's highest court is expected to rule in June on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization where the state of Mississippi is challenging Roe. Assuming the Court completely or partially overturns Roe v. Wade, State Reps. Bruce Borders (R-Jasonville) and Matt Hostettler (R-Patoka) stand ready to reconvene at the Statehouse to pass legislation to better protect the sanctity of life.
"It's vital for the state to do everything possible to protect our most vulnerable," Borders said. "Saving the unborn should not be controversial – it's simply the right thing to do."
Indiana Right to Life estimates an additional 4,000 abortions would occur in the state if the General Assembly waits until the 2023 legislative session to address any changes to Roe v. Wade.
"It's imperative that we protect life at all stages and I urge the governor to call the legislature back into session if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade," Hostettler said. "My goal is to protect the preborn, and a favorable ruling could give us the opportunity to go back to the Statehouse to do just that."
Since 2008, abortions dropped by 29% in Indiana and are currently less than half of the state's all-time high of over 16,500 in 1980. With years of strong conservative leadership, Indiana ranks at the top of the 2021 Defending Life report card from Americans United for Life.
This legislative session, Borders and Hostettler supported a new law making it a felony in Indiana to coerce a woman into having an abortion. The law also holds abortion clinics accountable for failing to report coercion to law enforcement. According to a 2017 Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons study, nearly 75% of the 987 American women who participated in an after-abortion survey admitted they experienced at least subtle forms of pressure to terminate their pregnancies.
Click here for a copy of the letter sent to the governor.
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State Rep. Bruce Borders (R-Jasonville) represents House District 45, which includes
all of Sullivan County and portions of Vigo, Greene, Knox and Daviess counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Patoka) represents House District 64, which includes
Gibson County and portions of Knox, Pike, Vanderburgh and Posey counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
