The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has emboldened Republican lawmakers nationwide to limit our right to bodily autonomy. Here in NH, many conservatives have suggested even tighter restrictions than the 24-week ban on abortion passed last year, despite two-thirds of Granite Staters voicing support for access to abortion care in all or most cases. Some state representatives even voted in favor of a six-week ban like the one in Texas. The freedom to choose is an issue on which Kevin Avard and I differ greatly. Avard calls himself “100 percent pro-life.” He even appeared recently with GOP congressional candidate Robert Burns, who suggested government-sanctioned abortion panels to determine if a mother’s health is truly at risk during a pregnancy.
A strictly “pro-life” stance denies the life and humanity of the mother by allowing the state to make a very personal, private decision on their behalf. I believe this choice relies solely with the mother and doctor performing the procedure. There’s no scenario in which the government should have a say in the choices we make for our bodies. Make no mistake, the right to choose is on the ballot this November. It’s up to us to ensure that every Granite Stater has access to affordable, comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including legal abortion. As state senator, I’ll always be a champion for protecting and expanding access to reproductive care, and will not stop fighting until everyone has access to the care they need.
Melanie Levesque
Brookline