Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Justice Dept., Others Warn Texas' Abortion Law Is Constitutional Threat
The Washington Post: Supreme Court: Texas, Justice Dept. Argue Over Role Of Federal Courts In Abortion Law Dispute
The Biden administration told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that intervention is required to keep Texas from “nullifying” the constitutional right to abortion that the court established nearly 50 years ago. The brief was submitted in advance of Monday’s hastily scheduled hearing on the Texas law that has virtually shut down abortion within the state’s borders. Texas, the federal government, abortion providers and individual citizens who want to enforce the law called S.B. 8 each made their cases. (Barnes, 10/27)
Roll Call: High Court Told Texas Abortion Law Model Could Spread To Guns, Free Speech
The Supreme Court faces arguments that a novel enforcement scheme Texas created for its abortion law could be used by states to neutralize other constitutional rights related to guns, protests, campaign finance and more. The warning comes from not only the Justice Department and the abortion providers that have challenged the Texas law but also constitutional scholars, states, former prosecutors and law enforcement officials and a California-based nonprofit group that pushes for gun rights. (Ruger, 10/28)
ABC News: With Abortion, Some Women Feel Like They're Stuck Between Arguments
Cessilye Smith said she's surrounded by inequality. She opened her clinic, Abide Women's Health Services, in south Dallas to help eliminate some of the disparities seen in maternal and infant health care. "Having these awful disparities that go beyond birth means there is a systemic issue here, so our little part of creating a better world -- a better environment -- for families is Abide," Smith said. Texas' controversial abortion bill, SB8, which effectively bans abortions as early as six weeks, has put the state in legal limbo this fall and has heightened conversations around the issue. (Smith, Lefferman, Coburn and Yamada, 10/27)
In abortion news from Oregon and Ohio —
CNBC: Workers In These Cities Will Get Bereavement Leave For Pregnancy Loss, Including Abortions
Portland, Oregon, is the latest city to provide bereavement leave for people experiencing pregnancy loss, including abortions. The city’s amended bereavement leave policy allows city employees to take up to three days of paid leave if they’ve had a miscarriage, stillbirth or any other type of pregnancy loss. The policy covers time off for people to recover from an abortion “irrespective of whether deemed medically necessary,” according to the text. (Liu, 10/27)
AP: Bill: Doctors Must Care For Babies Born Alive After Abortion
Doctors would be required to report cases of babies born alive after abortions or attempted abortions, under legislation approved Thursday by the GOP-controlled Ohio Senate. The bill would also ban abortion clinics from working with doctors who teach at state-funded hospitals and medical schools. (10/27)
