You’ve likely heard or read about the recent SCOTUS decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and gave states the authority to make laws governing a person’s right to access abortions and reproductive health care. There are many opinions, and lots and lots of information, around this ruling, so I want to focus on the immediate impact of this decision for Mainers. In short, current Maine law protects Mainers’ right to access abortion. The right to get an abortion up until a fetus is considered viable outside the womb – 22 to 24 weeks – was codified into state law in 1993, nearly 30 years ago. Because of that, Maine is one of 20 states that are unlikely to adopt abortion restrictions in the wake of this SCOTUS decision. On the flip side, 20 states have already banned (or mostly banned), will ban or are likely to ban abortions. That leaves 10 states, including Florida, Pennsylvania and Michigan, dealing with uncertainty.
I know that people are feeling many emotions and reacting to this news in many ways, but I remain confident that Mainers’ rights will be protected. Since 1993, Maine’s state abortion law has remained mostly unchanged. Even this session, six anti-abortion bills were introduced to the Legislature, but my colleagues and I defeated all of them. In addition to defeating those bills, the 129th Legislature — which I served in as a House member — with the support of Gov. Janet Mills, expanded access to abortion. We allowed MaineCare to cover abortions, and we allowed licensed physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to perform abortions. Because of this, the private, personal decisions that Mainers make about their families and health can happen with trusted health care providers — no matter how much money they make or where they live.
At a time like this, it’s best to listen to people who actually provide abortion care services. If you have questions, or want to check out resources, here are a few organizations to contact. To start, there is Planned Parenthood’s Biddeford Health Center, which offers a broad range of reproductive health care services, including abortion referrals. You can call them at (207) 282-6620 or visit www.plannedparenthood.org. Next, there is Maine Family Planning. They also offer abortion care. You can call them at (207) 622-7524 or visit www.mainefamilyplanning.org. Finally, there is the Mabel Wadsworth Center, which is the only not-for-profit, private, independent feminist health center in Maine. They offer sexual and reproductive health care to all people regardless of gender identity, insurance status, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, ability or economic status. You can call them at (207) 947-5337 or visit www.mabelwadsworth.org.
The news of this historic reversal of a half-century of established law and precedent remains fresh and raw. I hope that you are able to find some peace and solace in your lives. Please take a look at the facts and the resources. We are lucky that we live in Maine, but our hearts go out to those who are less fortunate. In particular, I feel for those who had their rights stripped away overnight as well as those who will soon have them stripped away just because of where they live.
If you ever need assistance, or have a question, please contact my office at (207) 287-1515 or send me an email at Donna.Bailey@legislature.maine.gov. It’s an honor to represent you.
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