The media pushes a false narrative on Democratic attempts to codify Roe

[comradebillyboy]

The media pushes a false narrative:

While [Democrats] historically trod gently around same-sex marriage and abortion rights — and Republicans used such issues to appeal to “values voters" . . .

The reality is that Democrats tried continuously to codify Roe for over 30 years

In (at least) all but 3 sessions of Congress since 1989, Democrats in the House & Senate have introduced and pushed legislation to legalize abortion under conditions at least as unrestrictive as Roe. Below is a list of some of such bills. There may be more.

H.R. 3700 / S. 1912 (101st Congress): Freedom of Choice Act of 1989
H.R. 25 (102nd): FOCA of 1991
S. 25 (102nd): FOCA of 1992
H.R. 25 / S. 25 (103rd): FOCA of 1993
H.R. 1952 / S. 929 (104th): Women’s Choice & Reproductive Health Protection Act of 1995
H.R. 2525 / S. 1208 (105th): Family Planning and Choice Protection Act of 1997
H.R. 2624 / S. 1400 (106th): FP&CPA of 1999
H.R. 3719 / S. 2020 (108th): FOCA (2004)
H.R. 5151 / S. 2593 (109th): FOCA (2006)
H.R. 1964 / S. 1173 (110th): FOCA (2007)
H.R. 3471 / S. 1696 (113th): Women’s Health Protection Act of 2013
H.R. 448 / S. 217 (114th): WHPA of 2015
H.R. 1322 / S. 510 (115th): WHPA of 2017
H.R. 2975 / S. 1645 (116th): WHPA of 2019
H.R. 3755 / S. 1975 (117th): WHPA of 2021
S. 4132 (117th): WHPA of 2022

Copious past & current Democratic Party Leaders have sponsored these bills. President Biden sponsored many and VP Harris all during their times in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Schumer & Asst. Maj. Ldr. Murray sponsored every one. Whip Durbin did most. Speaker Pelosi sponsored many. Maj. Ldr. Hoyer did most.

From 1988, every Democratic candidate for President or VP that served in Congress sponsored at least one of these bills.

Sen. Majority Leader Mitchell authored some of these bills. Sen. Whip Cranston authored the 1st. All were sponsored by then Democratic leaders in the House & Senate.

They lacked the votes, but they did try.


Copious thanks to WAPO reader The Cat-Tribe whose work I shamelessly copied. The Cat-Tribe's letter was in response to:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/07/22/house-republican-votes-marriage-contraception/

[Alexander Of Assyria]

1. The msm is not interested in studying history for context, their job is to keep the parties equal.

The better to control them while they debate with equalized arguments…even when one argument is fascist.

[onenote]

2. "pushed legislation" is a bit strong.

Yes, bills were introduced. And in the early years, hearings were held and committee votes were taken to report the bills. But nothing reached the floor.

And in later years, most of the bills that were introduced were sent to committee where they died without ever having been the subject of a hearing, let alone a vote.

[Tickle]

3. I think Obama had

a super majority his first two years
I'm editing this as president Obama only had a super majority for 4 months