In his 2021 inaugural address, President Biden spoke of the importance of democracy, stating, “The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. We have learned again that democracy is precious.”
However, a year later, this sentiment seemed to ring hollow as the Biden administration took legal action against Idaho for enacting legislation aimed at protecting the lives of women and unborn children.
Idaho passed the Defense of Life Act in 2020, a law designed to safeguard the lives of both women and their unborn children. This law, reflecting the will of Idahoans, became enforceable in June 2022 following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which affirmed the authority of states to enact pro-life legislation.
US President Biden (Credits: WFXR)
Despite this ruling, the Biden administration chose to challenge Idaho’s law, asserting that a federal law, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), superseded it. The Justice Department‘s lawsuit claimed that EMTALA compelled emergency room doctors to perform abortions, a claim unsupported by the law itself.
In reality, EMTALA was enacted to ensure that emergency rooms provide care to all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay, with the aim of saving lives. Similarly, Idaho’s law seeks to protect the lives of both mothers and children. There is no inherent conflict between the two laws, yet the administration’s actions seek to create discord.
Emergency room physicians are bound by oath to prioritize the well-being of their patients, including unborn children. The administration’s efforts would force these doctors to violate their oath and state law.
The state of Idaho has vigorously defended its law, appealing a lower court ruling that restricted its enforcement. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case, allowing Idaho to enforce its law while the matter is under review.
Joe Biden (Credits: CNN)
Despite President Biden’s professed commitment to unity, his administration’s actions reflect an extreme agenda that prioritizes abortion over the sanctity of life and democratic principles. By attempting to override state law, the administration disregards the will of the people of Idaho and undermines legal precedent.
Idaho, supported by legal firms Alliance Defending Freedom and Cooper and Kirk, is determined to uphold its law and protect the lives of its citizens. The Supreme Court’s favorable ruling would affirm the intent of both Idaho’s law and EMTALA: to save lives.
