Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Senate Democrats Move Ahead With Abortion Bill Vote Expected To Fail
NBC News: Senate To Vote On Nationwide Abortion Bill Ahead Of Roe Decision
The Senate is set to vote Wednesday on advancing a Democratic-led bill that would enshrine broad protections for legal abortion nationwide, a move triggered by a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that indicates Roe v. Wade will likely be overturned. The vote on the Women's Health Protection Act, which has passed the House, is all but certain to fail, with just 49 senators expected to support the measure, below the 60-vote requirement to defeat a Republican filibuster. (Kapur, 5/11)
The Boston Globe: Roe Vote Looks Doomed, But Democrats Press Ahead To Get Senators On The Record
Lawmakers portrayed the vote as a way to harness the anger among some voters at Republicans who don’t support abortion rights, given polling that suggests a majority of Americans do not want the court to strike down Roe v. Wade. When pressed by a reporter on Tuesday, Democratic majority leader Chuck Schumer declined to provide a backup plan if the legislation fails to pass. (Baskar, 5/10)
AP: Democrats' Bill Would Make Roe V. Wade Law, And Expand It
The Democrats’ bill would also end certain state laws that they say have chipped away at the original Roe v. Wade decision, banning what they say are medically unnecessary restrictions that block access to safe and accessible abortions. The court has allowed states to regulate but not ban abortion before the point of viability, around 24 weeks, resulting in a variety of state laws and restrictions that abortion-rights supporters oppose. The bill would end bans earlier than 24 weeks, in addition to any restrictions that do not make exceptions for the patient’s health or life. It would also stop states from requiring providers share “medically inaccurate” information, or from requiring additional tests or waiting periods, aimed at dissuading a patient from having an abortion. (Jalonick, 5/11)
The Wall Street Journal: In Reversal, Democrat Bob Casey Backs Abortion-Access Bill
Sen. Bob Casey, a self-described pro-life Democrat, said that he would back his party’s measure to affirm the right to terminate a pregnancy before fetal viability, citing the new uncertainty surrounding abortion access as the Supreme Court weighs overturning Roe v. Wade. Last week, Politico published a leaked draft opinion suggesting that the Supreme Court was prepared to throw out court precedent ensuring abortion access. The court confirmed the draft’s authenticity but cautioned it wasn’t final. Mr. Casey, who has a mixed record on abortion-related legislation, pointed to the possible court ruling and proposed GOP-backed state and federal legislation restricting abortion for his shift. (Hughes, 5/10)
From the Republicans —
The Hill: McConnell Tamps Down Chance Abortion Bill Could Pass GOP Senate
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) downplayed the possibility that a Republican-controlled Senate would pass a federal abortion ban. McConnell, during a weekly press conference, sidestepped a question about if he would rule out bringing up an abortion ban but said that most of the Senate GOP believed abortion should be dealt with at the state level. (Carney, 5/10)
The Hill: Republicans See Little Political Danger In Abortion Showdown
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is vowing that Republicans will have to answer to voters if they oppose enshrining Roe v. Wade protections into law. Senate Republicans appear willing to take that bet. The GOP is shrugging off a showdown over codifying the right to an abortion, taking the gamble that they won’t pay a political price in November. Schumer is poised to force a vote Wednesday on a bill supported only by Democrats in the wake of a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion penned by conservative Justice Samuel Alito that supports striking down Roe v. Wade. (Carney, 5/11)
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says abortion ruling could hurt the economy —
Politico: Yellen: Banning Abortion Would Be ‘Very Damaging’ To U.S. Economy
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday argued that banning abortion would be “very damaging” for the economy by reducing women’s ability to balance their careers and their families. “I believe that eliminating the right of women to make decisions about when and whether to have children would have very damaging effects on the economy and would set women back decades,” she said in response to a question at a Senate Banking Committee hearing. (Guida, 5/10)
