Legislation expressing support for abortion rights was blocked by Senate Republicans on Wednesday amid a push by Democrats to get the GOP on board for reproductive rights ahead of the November elections.
The bill needed 60 votes to advance to debate, meaning nine Republicans would need to break ranks and vote with Democrats. The final vote was 49 to 44, with only two Republicans defecting: Senator Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska).
The legislation was a “congressional sense” bill that called for support for abortion access as well as the restoration and development of protections enshrined in Roe v. Wade. It was sponsored by every Democratic woman in the Senate, as well as Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.).
“This is a clear vote, up or down, on whether you support women in their ability to make their own decisions about reproductive health care. It doesn’t force anything, it doesn’t cost anything, it’s really just a half-page bill simply saying that women should have the basic freedom to make their own decisions about their health care,” Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash. ) said on the Senate floor.
“If Republicans are going to force women to stay pregnant, let’s force them to be honest with the American people about their extreme position,” he added.
Democrats want to distinguish themselves from Republicans and make it clear that they oppose these efforts, especially as the Republican Party struggles with how to convey its position on reproductive rights in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.
In a statement on administrative policy, the White House said it strongly supports the bill.
“Abortion, contraception and fertility services are under attack as Republicans in Congress refuse to protect nationwide access to these vital reproductive health care,” the statement said. “The President and Vice President support the vast majority of Americans who agree that decisions about reproductive health care should be made by a woman and her doctor – not politicians.”
The vote was the third held by the Senate since June on protecting women’s access to reproductive health care, following votes on the Right to Contraception Law and the Right to In Vitro Fertilization Law. Republicans blocked both measures.
But Republicans dismissed Wednesday’s action as an election year show and a distraction, while Democrats grapple with growing concerns about President Biden’s fitness as a candidate and whether he should remain at the top of the party’s ticket in November.
Republicans say they support Americans’ access to contraception and in vitro fertilization and have accused Democrats of fearmongering over nonexistent threats.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
