Abortion Rights Bill Fails to Pass Senate Ahead of Supreme Court Ruling
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Senate Democrats on Wednesday failed to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act in a 49-to-51 vote, which would've codified abortion rights into federal law.
The bill, which already failed to pass the Senate earlier this year, would have banned individual states to place restrictions on abortion as the Supreme Court prepares to strike down Roe v. Wade. Centrist Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) joined the 50 Senate Republicans that opposed the bill, claiming that the proposal "goes too far" beyond the standard established by Roe. Most outlets noted that the Women’s Health Protection Act was "destined" to fail in the 50-50 Senate where stances on abortion are split almost entirely along party lines. However, Democrats viewed this as a "crucial vote" to show Americans that they are fighting for reproductive rights ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.
Left-rated outlets were more likely to accentuate how most voters don't support overturning Roe and that it could mark a turning point for Democrats in the upcoming election. Conversely, right-rated outlets were more likely to emphasize how Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said that a national abortion ban is "possible" if the Supreme Court decision is overturned.
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From the Center
Abortion-Rights Bill Backed by Democrats Fails in Senate
Senate Democrats failed to advance a bill seeking to ensure women’s access to abortion, in a vote designed to draw a clear contrast with Republicans ahead of a potential Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade looming just months before the midterm elections.
The vote was 49 in favor to 51 against, falling short of the 60 votes needed to advance the Women’s Health Protection Act.
Democrats held the vote despite knowing it was certain to fail in the 50-50 Senate, where abortion stances split almost entirely along party lines. No Republicans...
From the Left
Republicans Block Bill To Codify Roe v. Wade Once Again
Legislation aimed at safeguarding abortion rights across the country failed in the Senate for the second time this year as a conservative majority on the Supreme Court prepares to strike down its landmark 1973 ruling Roe v. Wade.
The Women’s Health Protection Act would create federal protections for providing and accessing abortion services. The House already passed the bill, but Senate Republicans blocked it from advancing earlier this year.
Faced with few legislative options in the narrowly divided Senate, Democrats are hoping their renewed effort to codify abortion rights will...
From the Right
Senate Democrats Fail to Advance Sweeping Abortion Bill
Senate Democrats failed to advance a bill to codify Roe v. Wade and create a national right to abortion on Wednesday.
The procedural vote to invoke cloture and advance the Women’s Health Protection Act failed in a 49-to-51 vote. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer chose to hold the vote despite the near certainty that Democrats would fail to meet the 60-vote threshold needed to break a Republican filibuster and advance the measure.
The largely symbolic vote came after a leaked majority draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization revealed that the Supreme Court could...
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