Local abortion opponent sees hope in Trump

Times Herald-Record (Middletown, NY)

Jan. 28--For the 44th year since the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade decision, abortion opponents marched in Washington Friday.

And people like Bill Banuchi of Newburgh are sensing that, with the election of Donald Trump as president, they might finally see that decision -- which made abortion legal in the United States -- overturned.

"I'm elated that we have a president who is on the side of life," Banuchi said. "He has a sense of decency."

And, Banuchi said, "He's actually doing what he said he was going to do in his campaign."

Banuchi couldn't be in Washington this year because he was scheduled to teach a class in Newburgh, but said he was keeping in touch with others from the area who did go.

The annual event was never expected to attract a crowd on the scale of last weekend's women's march, which brought more than half a million people to Washington. Organizers said in their permit application that they expected 50,000 people, though they hoped for more.

Banuchi said those who get caught up in numbers are missing the point.

"What's important is the message" the marchers bring, he said.

Those who support abortion rights are concerned what changes might be coming soon.

At Planned Parenthood of the Mid-Hudson Valley, spokeswoman Frances Fox-Pizzonia issued a statement on behalf of President and CEO Ruth-Ellen Blodgett:

"Abortion has been legal for more than 40 years. We do not want to let extreme politicians drag us backward."

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, in a statement issued by his office, said the past week has seen the appearance in Washington of "draconian policies that seek to undermine a woman's right to choose, defund Planned Parenthood and decrease women's access to health care."

"I believe health care decisions should be made between a woman and her doctor, not politicians trying to score political points in Washington," Maloney added.

Rep. John Faso's office did not respond to a request for comment in time for this story.

mrandall@th-record.com

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