What we mean by "let the states decide"

Neil Buchanan is taking bets on how quickly after Dobbs overrules Roe/Casey congressional Republicans propose a federal prohibition on abortion. Buchanan sets the over/under at two days after the start of the next Congress with Republican majorities. I will take the under--a bill will be introduced in this Congress the day after Dobbs, although the first bill with a chance will be when Buchanan suggests.

But is it fair to label this Republican hypocrisy? Yes, the anti-choice mantra has been "let the states decide," a phrase repeated during the Dobbs argument. But the mantra has not been about states v. federal government; it has been about popular/democratic branches (at whatever level) against the court. The objection to Roe and Casey is that it removed the decision from political debate and lawmaking; it did not mean to identify the level of government at which that debate and lawmaking will take place. What they mean by "let the states decide" is "let the majority (as reflected in representation) decide."

I believe a potential ban is a bad idea. I do not necessarily see it as hypocritical.