Senate Republicans block Democratic votes on abortion bills

Senate Republicans blocked an attempt by Democrats to pass a series of abortion-related bills on Tuesday, as the party seeks to maintain a focus on abortion and access to reproductive health care ahead of the November elections.

One bill aimed to protect the freedom to travel across state lines to access abortion care. Another bill would have protected doctors in states where abortion is legal from being held liable for providing services to patients in other states, and a third bill was intended to support the training of more abortion care providers.

“None of these projects should be controversial. Opposing these bills, as Republicans just did, is truly extreme,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said on the Senate floor. “It seems that when it comes to abortion, there is no bill too simple for Republicans to oppose, there is no right too basic for Republicans to attack, and no issue too important for Republicans to ignore.”

Democrats attempted to pass each of the three bills by unanimous consent, meaning only one Republican needed to oppose it in each case.

The bills are part of Senate Democrats’ months-long focus on abortion, aimed at highlighting differences between the parties when it comes to abortion rights and women’s access to health care. Democrats want to keep abortion on voters’ minds and highlight what they see as Republican extremism.

Last month, Senate Democrats attempted to vote on legislation to protect access to contraception and in vitro fertilization treatments. Both were blocked by Republicans.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) said the Senate will vote Wednesday on a bill to sign Roe v. Wade protections into law.

But as Democrats try to maintain their focus on abortion, concerns about whether President Biden should remain on the ticket threaten to overwhelm their efforts.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story