WHAT IS POSSIBLE:
WHY I’M VOTING
ABORTION MADE ILLEGAL
One of the reasons I am motivated to vote this year is the legalization of marijuana. And no, it’s not because “oh, this young girl just wants to get high.” In 2015, my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. When medical marijuana became legal in Pennsylvania earlier this year, my dad — who is not a fan of taking a bunch of pills every day — started to phase out some of his medicine, replacing it with THC/CBD tinctures, creams, and oils. My dad now has a natural way to fall asleep. My dad no longer experiences nausea. My dad is no longer in pain. I do not want his access to this therapeutic plant taken away. I vote for him and every other person who has benefited from medical marijuana. — JORDAN SNOWDEN, STAFF WRITER
BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
W
HEN SUPREME COURT Justice Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed this October, the possibility of repealing the landmark Roe V. Wade abortion-rights case became a lot more plausible. Kavanaugh called Roe “settled law,” but he was nominated by President Donald Trump, who campaigned on appointing judges that would end legal abortion. Kavanaugh’s prior record indicates a more conservative stance on abortion access. He represents the fifth conservative justice to the liberals’ four.
There are different challenges to Roe currently in federal courts, which could be heard by the Supreme Court within a year. If Roe is overturned, Pennsylvania legislators have a chance to pass bills severely restricting abortion or making it illegal, since Pennsylvania lacks abortion protections in its constitution. And many Republican legislators have track records that indicate a desire to do just that, having introduced several abortion-restriction bills over the last few years. With control of both state House and Senate, the only thing stopping bills to end legal abortions in Pennsylvania is Gov. Tom Wolf, who has already vetoed abortionrestriction bills during his first term and has vowed to protect abortion access. The easiest path forward for abortion opponents is to elect gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner, who has an antiabortion stance.
“Senseless, elective abortions stand contrary to every principle that makes America great. And we need to come together to stop as many abortions as we can.” — Scott Wagner said in a statement of support at the March For Life rally in January.
CHAMPION: AMPION
State House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Marshall) has backed several abortionrestriction bills. starring the original
DJs from WXXP www.wxxp.com
OPPONENTS: Gov. Tom Wolf (D-York) INTEGRAL CANDIDATES: Gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner (R-York)
BY THE NUMBERS According to an August poll,
30 percent of Pennsylvanians want abortion legal in all circumstances, while
15 percent support making abortion illegal. *FRANKLIN & MARSHALL POLL
featuring
GENERATION XX
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a benefit for
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FRI., NOV. 23
Door open at 6PM. Show starts promptly at 7PM Tickets on sale now at WWW.TICKETMASTER.COM
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER OCT. 31-NOV. 7, 2018
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