State Officials Share Wins on Life, Election Integrity, Education
Fred Lucas /
OXON HILL, Md.—After participating in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court case that overturned the Roe v. Wade abortion decision, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said the credit goes to the entire pro-life movement.
“We did this together,” Fitch told the crowd at The Heritage Foundation’s 50th anniversary celebration event on Thursday. “My name was on the brief, and I was in court, but we all did the sidewalk counseling, the prayers, the letters to lawmakers.” (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.)
Fitch, a Republican, was among state lawmakers and other officials who spoke at a forum, “Returning Power to the People: Hard-Fought, Hard-Won Victories in the States.”
“We have a new perspective we didn’t have last year,” she said. “We have a new pathway for opportunities to step in by supporting women and protecting life at the same time.”
The Mississippi AG said there are conservative policies at the state level to make quality child care more affordable and accessible, to give the workforce more flexibility, and to fix the broken child-support system and promote adoptions.
Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds addressed the gathering by video, during which she discussed several issues, including how she broke up “our state education monopoly.”
“Iowa recently passed the boldest school choice law ever enacted,” she said. “In three years, every K-12 student will have access to the best education for them, regardless of ZIP code or income.”
She said this came from parents who “refused to believe money is a barrier and would not take ‘no’ for an answer.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton spoke of how his office successfully fought Texas counties that attempted to enact unsecured mail-in voting policies, winning 12 cases in 2020. His office also brought 900 vote-fraud prosecutions in the past two years.
Other conservative achievements at the state level can’t be achieved without ensuring election integrity, Paxton said.
“This is going to continue to be a strategy of the Left. They are going to continue to try to steal elections,” the Texas Republican said. “I know it’s controversial to say it. I’m telling you, 900 cases in Texas. … There is a lot of voter fraud going on. We have proof of it.
And don’t let people make you feel stupid for bringing up the obvious. If they are so sure there is no voter fraud, make sure you vote with voter ID, that mail-in ballots are more secure. Why would anybody who cares about free and fair elections criticize you for wanting to protect free and fair elections?
Montana state Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crow discussed how she fought hard for a bill to prevent transgender surgeries on children.
“When I carried Senate Bill 99 that doesn’t allow surgical or medical procedures on those children struggling with gender dysphoria, my own colleagues asked, ‘Why are you carrying this bill?’” she said.
“I was told, ‘It’s going to ruin your political career.’ I was warned, ‘Your colleagues will distance themselves from you because this bill is so toxic.’ I wasn’t the only one afraid of this legislation,” she said. “But I knew it was the right thing to do. And I prayed that I could be compassionate and strong.”
She said amid chaos and threats, the bill passed on with an overwhelming 65-35 vote in the state House. Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte has reportedly said he plans to sign the legislation.
Have an opinion about this article? To sound off, please email [email protected] and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the url or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.