New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has declared that he is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to protect access to abortion, including prescribing abortion pills in defiance of any Supreme Court ruling against them.
The Governor made the statement in an interview on MSNBC‘s “Katy Tur Reports,” when asked what he could do in the event that the Supreme Court struck down the use of mifepristone, one of the most commonly prescribed abortion pills.
“Everything is on the table,” said Murphy. “This is going to cost people‘s lives, women in particular, sadly. And so, if that‘s what‘s at stake, we‘ll do whatever it takes to save lives.”
Murphy went on to say that he has already taken steps to ensure that abortion access remains unencumbered in New Jersey, such as joining legal action as an amicus and approaching the CEOs of Walgreens and CVS to make sure unencumbered access is maintained. He also said that he has considered a bulk acquisition of mifepristone.
The Governor‘s statement comes on the heels of a number of Supreme Court rulings that have limited access to abortion services, including a ruling in April that allowed states to prohibit abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
Murphy‘s remarks have drawn criticism from anti–abortion groups, who are accusing him of putting politics before people‘s lives.
“Governor Murphy‘s willingness to defy a Supreme Court ruling shows how extreme his pro–abortion agenda is,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti–abortion group Susan B. Anthony List. “He is willing to risk the lives of women and ignore judicial precedent to advance his own political agenda.”
Murphy‘s comments have also been met with support from pro–choice groups, who applaud his commitment to protecting access to abortion services.
“Governor Murphy is right to stand up for women‘s health and rights, even in the face of a Supreme Court ruling that could limit access to safe and legal abortion,” said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro–Choice America. “We applaud his courage and commitment to protecting women‘s rights and access to health care.”
It remains to be seen how the Supreme Court will rule on the issue of mifepristone, and whether or not Murphy will follow through on his promise to defy a potential ruling against it. But what is clear is that the Governor is willing to go the distance to protect women‘s rights and health.
