The upcoming Supreme Court case involving Idaho’s Defense of Life Act has brought to light the Biden administration’s aggressive stance on abortion rights and disregard for states’ rights. The Daily Caller News Foundation spoke with Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador ahead of oral arguments, and he expressed his concerns over the federal government’s interference in state laws.
In August 2022, the Biden DOJ filed a lawsuit against Idaho, shortly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and gave states the power to regulate abortion. The DOJ argued that Idaho’s Defense of Life Act, which prohibits most abortions except in cases of saving the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest, is in conflict with the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). EMTALA requires doctors to provide emergency “stabilizing care” to both pregnant women and unborn children.
According to Labrador, the Biden administration is manipulating EMTALA to further their pro-abortion agenda. He believes that the law is being used to send a message to their base that they are fighting on all fronts for abortion rights. The Supreme Court will have to resolve the alleged tension between state and federal law in this case.
Idaho’s Defense of Life Act, passed in 2020 as a trigger ban in the event of Roe v. Wade being overturned, has been a major point of contention for the federal government. The Biden administration argues that in some scenarios, the Act conflicts with EMTALA. They claim that in certain emergency situations, terminating a pregnancy may be necessary to save the mother’s life or prevent harm to her health, and this cannot be denied under EMTALA.
However, Idaho’s legislature argues that there is no conflict between their law and EMTALA. They claim that EMTALA only outlines procedures that hospitals must follow and does not mandate specific treatments, such as abortion. This interpretation aligns with Idaho’s historic police powers, and any attempt to dictate specific treatments through EMTALA would be an overreach.
Idaho will soon face off against the Biden administration at the Supreme Court. What’s this case all about?
It centers on a federal law, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). The Biden administration claims this law gives it the power to override Idaho’s… pic.twitter.com/dVHFiI8Qsh
— Alliance Defending Freedom (@ADFLegal) April 12, 2024
The Ninth Circuit initially halted an injunction against Idaho’s law in 2023, but later vacated that decision and agreed to reconsider the case before the full court. In January, the Supreme Court paused the injunction, allowing Idaho’s law to remain in effect, and agreed to take up the case. This decision could indicate that the court believes Idaho has the right to speak through its elected officials and pass laws that align with their values and beliefs.
Labrador believes that this case is significant because it highlights the federal government’s attempt to interfere with state laws and the power of elected officials. The Supreme Court’s decision to give states the control over abortion laws should not be undermined by the federal government’s interpretation of a separate law. This case will ultimately determine whether states have the right to regulate abortion or if the federal government will continue to overstep their boundaries.
but if biden goes along with these murders, there won’t be any new kids for him to sniff on.
Too bad Biden wasn’t aborted.