PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — U.S. Sen. Bob Casey announced his support of the Women's Health Protection Act on Tuesday, marking a major shift for the longtime anti-abortion Democrat. The Pennsylvania senator released a statement via Twitter regarding the Senate's upcoming vote.
Related Jawncast: PA Senator Bob Casey shifts his stance on abortion
Referring to the recently leaked draft Supreme Court decision regarding Roe v. Wade, he wrote, "The real question of the moment is: Do you support a categorical ban on abortion? During my time in public office, I have never voted for—nor do I support—such a ban."
His statement reads, in full:
Casey has long described himself as an anti-abortion Democrat. His father, Bob Casey, Sr., former governor of Pennsylvania, was known for leading the Democratic Party's anti-abortion faction. The senior Casey led a fight against Planned Parenthood that landed in the U.S. Supreme Court. Their 1992 landmark decision on Planned Parenthood v. Casey upheld the abortion rights established in Roe v. Wade, while also upholding almost all abortion prohibitions that he had signed into law as governor.
