Press Releases

SACRAMENTO—State Controller Betty T. Yee today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturns Roe v. Wade:

“Nobody, man or woman, should breathe a sigh of relief today because they have the geographic fortune to live in a “blue” state. The ramifications of today’s misguided Supreme Court decision will be widespread and painful, setting us back even further at a time when women’s work already was curtailed by caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout history, societies that respected women’s autonomy have thrived economically, while those that did not trailed behind. In the U.S., access to birth control and abortion led to fewer teen pregnancies, more women obtaining higher education, and the share of the workforce that is female rising from approximately one-third to nearly half. It has been proven that women who work put a significantly larger share of their income back into communities. These charitable efforts will be reduced even as this decision heightens their importance.

I am proud that California will put itself forward as a safehaven for women in need of reproductive health care — and make no mistake, abortion is HEALTH CARE — but work leave and travel for such care will remain out of reach for the poorest of women hardest hit by this ruling. No person’s humanity should be determined by geographic boundaries or regional biases. I stand with all who are outraged at this undermining of long-established precedent.”

As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Yee is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The Controller has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds. She is a member of numerous financing authorities, and fiscal and financial oversight entities including the Franchise Tax Board. She also serves on the boards for the nation’s two largest public pension funds. Elected in 2014 and reelected in 2018, Controller Yee is the tenth woman elected to a statewide office in California’s history. Follow the Controller on Twitter at @CAController and on Facebook at California State Controller’s Office.

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