Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Gubernatorial Candidates Seizing On Abortion As Threat To Roe V. Wade Highlights Role Of State Governments
Politico: Democratic Governors Campaign As Last Line Of Defense On Abortion
The Supreme Court confirmation fight brewing in Washington has made abortion a front-burner issue in governor’s races around the country, as Democrats warn that Republicans could try to ban the practice in their states if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The possibility that the Supreme Court will leave it to the states to legislate the legality of abortion has prompted a flurry of advertisements and campaign pronouncements from Democrats — and muted responses from many Republicans, who have generally praised Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh without getting into specifics about how he might affect abortion rights. (Strauss, 7/17)
Sacramento Bee: CA Governor Race: Gavin Newsom Takes On John Cox On Abortion
Abortion hasn’t been a high-profile issue in the California governor’s race this year, and that makes sense: Voters here have long supported abortion rights, and a Democratic-controlled Legislature has sought to expand them. But with President Donald Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court nomination raising the issue nationally, Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Gavin Newsom now says he wants to talk about it in his race against Republican John Cox. (Hart, 7/17)
The Washington Post: The Affordable Care Act, Once A GOP Target, Is Now A Midterm Rallying Cry For Democrats
Democrats are centering their campaign to retake Congress and defeat President Trump’s Supreme Court pick on a staunch defense of the Affordable Care Act, the landmark health-care law that Republicans used to wipe away their majorities in the past two midterm elections. Democratic candidates and groups are trumpeting support for popular elements of President Barack Obama’s signature law and attacking Republicans for trying to rescind them in last year’s failed repeal-and-replace effort. Liberal activists also are seeking to convince centrist senators that confirmation of Trump’s new Supreme Court nominee, U.S. Appeals Court Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, would increase the odds that courts would dismantle the law known as Obamacare. (Sullivan, 7/16)
