Herrera: Overturn Roe v. Wade

State Rep. Jaime Herrera told Seattle’s KING 5 TV last week that she supports overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that guarantees women’s right to abortion.

Herrera’s comment came in response to a question from Robert Mak, host of the program “Up Front.”

“The people of the 3rd Congressional District deserve to know that Jaime Herrera would knowingly risk the lives and health of women,” said Planned Parenthood Washington’s Dana Laurent. “If Ms. Herrera thinks that outlawing abortion is the solution, she clearly doesn’t have her facts straight.” Women around the world continue to die every day due to complications from unsafe abortions, she said.

Denny Heck, Herrera’s Democratic opponent, has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood’s National Action Fund.

Herrera has made no secret of her pro-life position. “I was endorsed by pro-life (groups), I’ve always been pro-life,” she said in an interview. “I don’t shy from it. I know who I am.”

Asked whether she supports abortion in cases of rape or incest, or when the woman’s life is in danger, she said, “I do support some of those exceptions, but we are pretty out there with our view.”

Heck and his backers are trying to change the subject, Herrera said.

“The main issue on the minds of the people I represent is out-of-control spending on the state and federal level,” she said. “I would maintain we are facing the worst economic crisis in a generation. Planned Parenthood supports the current makeup of Congress. They want people to write about this.”

Kathie Durbin