Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
It's Election Day: Abortion Battles Will Play Out In Ohio, Virginia
The Washington Post: Will Ohio Issue 1 Voters Back Abortion Rights? Other Red And Swing States Have.
Leesa Howard thinks abortion should be rare and not used for “birth control.” She’ll readily vote next year for Donald Trump, backing the man who remade the Supreme Court to end Roe v. Wade. But Howard, 53, also knows a woman who got pregnant in high school and said an abortion kept her life on track. She plans to vote “yes” this week on an Ohio ballot measure that would enshrine access to the procedure in the state constitution. “I don’t think the government should be able to tell us what we should do with our own bodies,” Howard said. (Knowles and Blanco, 11/6)
Politico: Ohio Voters Weigh Weed Legalization
Ohio voters appear poised to back recreational marijuana legalization on Tuesday, nearly a decade after they rejected a similar ballot measure. Recent polls have found support for the question hovering around 60 percent, but in an off-year election where it’s uncertain who will show up at the polls the outcome is far from certain. (Shang, 11/6)
Detroit Free Press: Ohio Could Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis: What That Means For Michigan
Michigan dispensary owners are some of the biggest opponents of the proposal, the spokesperson for the group behind the effort to legalize recreational marijuana in Ohio has said. That's because it's widely acknowledged that Ohio residents cross state lines to buy marijuana in Michigan and if it becomes available in Ohio, that could mean fewer customers for Michigan dispensaries, leading to an oversupply of marijuana that could drive prices even lower than what they've fallen to in the last few years. (Roberts, 11/7)
On races in Virginia, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Mississippi —
Reuters: Abortion Rights At Center Of Ohio And Virginia Elections
Virginia's Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin has said he will pursue a 15-week abortion limit if Republicans take control of the legislature, a move he has characterized as a reasonable compromise that could offer a blueprint for Republicans in 2024. (Ax, 11/7)
The Wall Street Journal: Voters Head To Polls Tuesday For Big Races In Virginia, Kentucky
Voters in several states will give the country an early read on the electorate’s mood heading into the 2024 presidential campaign, with a Democratic incumbent in Kentucky testing the party’s strength in Trump Country and abortion front and center in Virginia’s legislative races. Tuesday’s gubernatorial race in Kentucky is expected to be competitive, while the Mississippi governor’s contest isn’t seen as close. Virginia and New Jersey have no statewide races, but all of the seats in each state’s legislatures are on the ballot. Control of Virginia’s legislature is on the line, with the results offering hints about the strength of both parties’ messages heading into 2024. (Calvert and Vielkind, 11/7)
The 19th: Virginia Elections Could Lead To Backslide In Protections For LGBTQ+ People
Even as Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has worked to restrict the rights of trans youth, Virginia remains the sole state in the South with more protections for LGBTQ+ people than discriminatory policies — a status that could change after this week’s elections. (Rummler and Barclay, 11/6)
The New York Times: In Mississippi, A Test Of Expanding Medicaid — And Scandal
The Deep South state now faces a pitched battle for governor, but the candidates have not made abortion the central issue, since the incumbent Republican governor, Tate Reeves, and his Democratic challenger, Brandon Presley, both oppose it. Instead, Mr. Presley’s surprisingly potent challenge has been fueled by a push to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act and a public corruption scandal that saw the misspending of $94 million in federal funds intended for Mississippi’s poor on projects like a college volleyball facility pushed by the retired superstar quarterback Brett Favre. (Weisman, 11/7)
In related reproductive health news —
Reuters: Biden Admin Urges Court To Allow Confidential Contraceptive Access For Teens
The Biden administration on Monday urged a federal appeals court to allow minors in Texas to access birth control through clinics funded by a federal program without having their parents notified. The administration is asking a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who last December ruled in favor of Alexander Deanda, a man who claimed that the so-called Title X family planning clinic program removed his right to direct his daughters' upbringing. (Pierson, 11/6)
Fox News: Missouri Attorney General Sues Biden Admin For Approving The Shipment Of Chemical Abortion Pills In The Mail
The Missouri attorney general announced on Monday that his office is suing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health and Senior Services after they unlawfully approved the shipping of chemical abortion pills in the mail. Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s suit, which was joined by the states of Idaho and Kansas, comes on the heels of his efforts earlier this year, warning CVS and Walgreens that their plan to use the mail to distribute abortion pills would violate state and federal laws. (Wehner, 11/6)
KFF Health News: Iowa’s Governor Opposes Abortion — And Has Final Say On Whether Medicaid Pays For It
Any Iowa hospital or clinic seeking Medicaid payment for providing an abortion would need approval from the state’s most prominent abortion opponent: Gov. Kim Reynolds. No one bothers to try. Iowa’s Medicaid regulations include an unusual policy requiring signoff from the governor’s office before the public health insurance program could pay for any abortion services, even if they meet the state’s strict criteria. (Leys, 11/7)
In other election news —
The 19th: Disability Victory Is Working To Get More Disabled Candidates Elected
While politicians with disabilities like Sen. John Fetterman have become increasingly visible in national politics, disabled people are still significantly underrepresented. A new organization, Disability Victory, aims to change that. (Luterman, 11/6)
