Saturday, April 6th, is Governor Tim Walz’s birthday. We want to take a moment to thank him for all his hard work, especially in the fight for reproductive freedom. We are grateful to have a governor like him in our corner to push back on the wave of conservative attacks on reproductive health care like in-vitro fertilization (IVF), contraception, and abortion.

Attacks on our Reproductive Freedoms

From the moment that conservatives on the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, there has been a steady stream of conservative attacks on reproductive freedoms. Conservatives in states across the country wasted no time pushing extreme abortion restrictions.

Twenty-four states have banned abortion, and over eighty abortion restrictions have been signed into law. There are large swaths of the country, especially in the southeast states, where it is very difficult, if not impossible, for people to access the abortion care they need. 

At the national level, conservatives blocked legislation that would have protected the right to contraception and IVF treatments. And in Congress, conservatives have introduced bills for a national abortion ban.

Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether to limit access to Mifepristone, the most common and safest medication for abortion. Later this month, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on another reproductive freedom-related case regarding protecting doctors and patients in situations where an emergency abortion is needed.

Walz’s Pushback

Governor Walz has made it clear that he will protect reproductive freedoms. He has signed multiple bills to enshrine these protections into law, including the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act and The Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, which protects out-of-state patients seeking care in Minnesota. 

While Minnesota’s conservative congressional delegation – Representatives Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach, and Pete Stauber – joined an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to ban the use of Mifepristone, Governor Walz joined an amicus brief arguing that the medication should be protected.

After the Alabama IVF ruling, Walz shared his family’s personal story of using IVF to conceive their daughter, Hope. He has firmly stated that he will protect access to IVF in Minnesota.

He has also used his platform as the head of an organization for progressive governors to highlight the importance of governors’ role in appointing judges who prioritize protecting reproductive freedoms.

Thank you, Governor Walz, for prioritizing and protecting our reproductive freedoms.

Help Us Hold Conservatives Accountable

We’re thankful to live in a state that values bodily autonomy and the fundamental right to abortion. And we’re grateful to Governor Walz and progressives in the state legislature for taking bold action to codify abortion rights and protect patients and physicians from other states.

But the ongoing attacks from conservatives on abortion rights are unacceptable. We need to hold conservatives accountable for trying to take away our reproductive freedoms so that we can continue to build a better Minnesota for the years to come.

Explore our app, Megaphone, to join our movement fighting against conservative extremism.

And sign up to help us hold conservatives accountable.