Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pledges his state will ‘work to expand pro-life protections’

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was quick to respond to Friday’s bombshell ruling out of the United States Supreme Court that overturned Roe v Wade, promising Florida will work to “expand pro-life protections.”

In a Twitter post on Friday, DeSantis wrote, “The prayers of millions have been answered. For nearly fifty years, the U.S. Supreme Court has prohibited virtually any meaningful pro-life protection, but this was not grounded in the text, history or structure of the Constitution. By properly interpreting the Constitution, the Dobbs majority has restored the people’s role in our republic and a sense of hope that every life counts.”

DeSantis also promised to work with Florida lawmakers to expand abortion restrictions in the state, saying he would  “work to expand pro-life protections” but did not specify what measures he would promote. “Florida will continue to defend its recently-enacted pro-life reforms against state court challenges, will work to expand pro-life protections, and will stand for life by promoting adoption, foster care and child welfare,” he wrote.

Other state leaders have announced their intent to pursue harsher abortion laws on the heels of the controversial SCOTUS decision. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said on Friday he would work toward a ban on abortion after 15 weeks. Conservative leaders in other states like Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio and South Carolina will also seek stronger limits on abortion and reproductive rights now that Roe has been overturned.

DeSantis and a group of fellow Republicans called on the Supreme Court last year to reconsider Roe, as well as the 1992 case, Planned Parenthood v Casey, that reaffirmed the Roe ruling. “The Court’s decisions in Roe and Casey are prime examples of invading an area that has not been committed to the Federal Government and remains reserved to the States,” they wrote.