Carbondale Reporter

U.S. Representative Mike Bost shared his thoughts in honor of the second anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in the Dobbs case, stating, "since then, more than 200,000 children a year have been saved." Bost made this statement in a June 24 Facebook post.

"Today marks the second anniversary of the Supreme Court's monumental Dobbs decision, empowering states to protect lives of the unborn," said Bost, according to Facebook. "Since then, more than 200,000 children a year have been saved."

On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion on the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Justice Alito wrote the opinion, with Justices Thomas and Kavanaugh filing concurring opinions. Justices Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan filed a dissenting opinion. Chief Justice Roberts filed an opinion concurring on the judgment, according to SCOTUSBlog.com. The 6-3 decision stated that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. Additionally, "Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey are overruled; the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives," according to SCOTUSBlog.com.

Screenshot of US Rep. Mike Bost's June 24 Facebook post | MIke Bost Campaign Facebook page

Ahead of the first anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, CBS News Chicago reported that abortion remains legal in Illinois. In 2019, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a law making reproductive healthcare (including abortion) a human right. This law enhanced a 2017 law signed by Governor Bruce Rauner, which codified abortion as a legal procedure in the state.

Illinois' 12th Congressional District includes communities such as Carbondale, Anna, Vienna, Harrisburg, McLeansboro, Benton, Du Quoin, Sparta, Nashville, Breese, Centralia, Louisville, Fairfield, Albion, Olney, Newton, Effingham, Robinson and Marshall. It also encompasses portions of Paducah; Cape Girardeau; Sainte Genevieve; Festus; Oakville; Belleville; Lawrenceville; and Harmony.

Mike Bost is currently serving as the representative for Illinois’ 12th District since January 6, 2015. He has two decades of experience in the Illinois State House of Representatives where he served as House Republican Caucus Chair. A lifelong resident of Murphysboro and former U.S. Marine Corps member from 1979-1982, Bost worked for 24 years at Bost Trucking Service as a driver and truck manager before joining the Murphysboro Fire Department after graduating from the University of Illinois’ Certified Firefighter II Academy in 1993.