Why the Senate is taking a doomed vote on abortion rights

[riversedge]

Source: vox.com







Democrats want to show voters they tried on abortion rights.


By Li [e-mail] Feb 28, 2022, 4:20pm EST

Demonstrators wearing green hold up a banner that reads “Abortion” in front of the Supreme Court building.
Pro-abortion activists participate in a “flash-mob” demonstration outside of the US Supreme Court on January 22. Alex Edelman/AFP/Getty Images

The Senate on Monday will take its first vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act, a bill aimed at codifying the right to an abortion.

Democrats hope to use the vote to show support for abortion rights as they come under attack in numerous states, and as they face a challenge in the Supreme Court. The vote, however, is widely expected to fail: Republicans are broadly opposed to the legislation and will likely filibuster it. Once filibustered, the bill would need 60 votes to advance, support it doesn’t currently have in a 50-50 Senate.

Democrats don’t appear to be fully united on the vote, either: Only 48 of the 50 lawmakers in the Senate Democratic caucus have signed on to co-sponsor this bill. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Bob Casey (D-PA) have not sponsored the legislation, though Casey has said he’ll back Monday’s vote, which is to open debate on the bill. Manchin has yet to indicate whether he’d support the bill or Monday’s procedural vote.

On the Republican side, Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have both backed abortion rights in the past, though Collins has previously said she thinks the Women’s Health Protection Act is too expansive, and Murkowski hasn’t said where she stands.

Although it’s a doomed bill, the consideration of the Women’s Health Protection Act is still important. By holding a vote on the legislation, Democrats are highlighting abortion rights as a priority and getting lawmakers — including vulnerable Republicans — on the record about where they stand. .........................

Read more: https://www.vox.com/2022/2/28/22946299/womens-health-protection-act-senate-vote-abortion-rights

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[leftieNanner]

1. Question

If the bill were to pass the Senate and be signed by POTUS, couldn't the anti abortion people just sue and challenge it all the way up to SCOTUS? Or is this not the kind of legislation that could be erased in that manner?

[PoliticAverse]

8. Of course, as legislation, states could challenge it. n/t

[DownriverDem]

2. Folks

need to see the urgency of what is going on. Having a vote will give it a national view.

[Pantagruel]

3. Women alone

must control their personal reproductive health choices.

[MOMFUDSKI]

5. That was super succinct

but said more than a large tome ever could. Thanks for that. It was breathtaking.

[riversedge]

4. BREAKING: The Senate just failed to advance the Women's Health Protection Act (#WHPA) - a critical s

BREAKING: The Senate just failed to advance the Women’s Health Protection Act (#WHPA) – a critical step in ending restrictive abortion laws.

But let's be clear: The fight for WHPA isn’t over, and we won’t stop until it finally becomes law. #ActForAbortionAccess

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[sakabatou]

6. I'm not surprised.

But, hopefully, a similar bill will be brought up to the floor.

[riversedge]

7. I am not surprised either but it is still so painful to see.

[demigoddess]

9. when military are drafted and fight a war, we pay for their medical needs.

when cops are wounded 'keeping the peace' we pay for their medical needs.
We forbid women from getting abortions, even in case of rape and incest, and we do not pay for their medical needs. Enough said for me.