Democrats expected the GOP to filibuster the legislation and brought it up to make a point to voters ahead of the 2024 election, viewing reproductive rights as a winning issue.
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans blocked legislation Wednesday that would enshrine a federal right to access contraception, sinking the Democratic-led measure.
Democrats expected the GOP to scuttle the measure and brought it up as an election-year “messaging” push to highlight the contrast between the two parties on reproductive rights, viewing it as a winning issue with independents and swing voters this fall.
It defines contraceptives as “any drug, device, or biological product intended for use in the prevention of pregnancy” and prohibits the federal government or states from enforcing laws or standards that impede that right.
On Tuesday, Senate Republicans held a lengthy lunch meeting in which lawmakers disagreed on the path forward for Wednesday’s vote, according to two people in the room.
Others said that extending the process would at the very least tie up the Senate floor so that Democrats couldn’t move forward with other planned messaging bills as soon as next week, including on IVF protections.
Just days before the vote, 11 Senate Republicans — including Johnson and Ernst — signed a letter vowing to oppose all Democratic legislation and judicial nominees to protest Donald Trump’s guilty verdict in New York.
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WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans blocked legislation Wednesday that would enshrine a federal right to access contraception, sinking the Democratic-led measure.
Democrats expected the GOP to scuttle the measure and brought it up as an election-year “messaging” push to highlight the contrast between the two parties on reproductive rights, viewing it as a winning issue with independents and swing voters this fall.
It defines contraceptives as “any drug, device, or biological product intended for use in the prevention of pregnancy” and prohibits the federal government or states from enforcing laws or standards that impede that right.
On Tuesday, Senate Republicans held a lengthy lunch meeting in which lawmakers disagreed on the path forward for Wednesday’s vote, according to two people in the room.
Others said that extending the process would at the very least tie up the Senate floor so that Democrats couldn’t move forward with other planned messaging bills as soon as next week, including on IVF protections.
Just days before the vote, 11 Senate Republicans — including Johnson and Ernst — signed a letter vowing to oppose all Democratic legislation and judicial nominees to protest Donald Trump’s guilty verdict in New York.
The original article contains 1,076 words, the summary contains 193 words. Saved 82%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!