Roe V. Wade Anniversary casts spotlight on policy battle over abortion

Roll Call reports that state legislatures passed a landmark number of anti-abortion measures in 2011 -; setting the stage for the year ahead.

Roll Call: 2011 Set Stage For War Over Abortion
Anti-abortion activists achieved landmark success last year, no thanks to Congress. As tens of thousands protest legalized abortion outside the Supreme Court and Capitol today, leaders in the anti-abortion movement say state legislatures have provided cause to celebrate. "2011 was certainly a watershed year in the defense of life," said Denise Burke, vice president of Americans for United Life, noting that many state legislatures considered and passed anti-abortion measures (Ali, 1/23).

National Journal: Roe v. Wade Passes 39th Anniversary
On the 39th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case on Sunday, which established protection for abortion rights, President Obama reaffirmed his support for a woman's right to choose in a statement released on his blog. Obama called the right to choose a "fundamental constitutional right," despite how "sensitive and often divisive" the issue may be. "As we mark the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we must remember that this Supreme Court decision not only protects a woman's health and reproductive freedom, but also affirms a broader principle: that government should not intrude on private family matters," his statement reads (Jaffe, 1/22).

The Hill: Obama Defends Roe v. Wade On Anniversary Of Supreme Court Ruling
President Obama marked the 39th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade court decision Sunday by saying that he remains committed "to protecting a woman's right to choose and this fundamental constitutional right." "We must remember that this Supreme Court decision not only protects a woman's health and reproductive freedom, but also affirms a broader principle: that government should not intrude on private family matters," Obama said in a statement Sunday (Herb, 1/22).