Pro-abortion rights protesters outside the Supreme Court.

Athens is represented in Congress by two Republicans who also happen to be Baptist ministers, so it’s no surprise that they’re extremely unhappy with yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, striking down Texas restrictions on abortion clinics that would have closed most of the clinics in the state.

Here’s Rep. Doug Collins (R-Gainesville) on the 5-3 decision:

The Court’s decision endangers women and removes valuable safety precautions, and is an erosion of states’ rights. The elected representatives of the Texas legislature passed this law to ensure patient safety in their state, and the law was signed by the Governor. The Supreme Court decision inserts the court into patient safety decisions where they don’t belong. 

I have voted to protect the sanctity of life throughout my time in both the Georgia state legislature and the House of Representatives. This ruling will allow abortion clinics to proliferate with little oversight. As we saw with the case of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, whose abortion clinic was a real life house of horrors, these largely unregulated clinics jeopardize the lives of mothers and babies alike through the use of unsafe medical procedures. I stand by my pro-life principles, and will continue to speak out on the negative consequences the abortion industry has on our society.

And here’s the statement from Rep. Jody Hice (R-Social Circle):

Yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling was a regrettable step backwards in the fight to protect the well-being of mothers and their unborn across our Nation. Ensuring women’s safety by requiring the same minimum standards as other outpatient surgical centers is not an undue burden; it is commonsense.

Simply put, abortion clinics should not be given a free pass to circumvent medical requirements, and facilities that do not meet basic health and safety standards are not facilities that anyone should want to remain open. While I am deeply disappointed in this decision, I am committed as ever to the protection of women's health and the lives of the unborn. This ruling strengthens our resolve to defend the most helpless and innocent among us.

Flagpole will be running commentary from The Magnolia Fund, an Athens-based pro-abortion rights nonprofit, in the coming days.

The Magnolia Fund will participate in an online town hall meeting tonight featuring Wendy Davis of Texas filibuster/pink sneaker fame, among others. On Thursday at 9 p.m. at Flicker, the group will present Trapped, a documentary on efforts to restrict abortion access, with a happy-hour discussion of the film scheduled for July 7 at Hi-Lo. All donations will go towards funding abortions in the Southeast for low-income women.