Headline Roundup • June 14th, 2024
Republicans Block Bill to Protect IVF; Southern Baptists Vote to Oppose the Procedure
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The Southern Baptists, the U.S.'s largest Protestant denomination, voted to condemn in vitro fertilization (IVF) on Wednesday. On Thursday, Senate Republicans blocked a Democrat-backed bill to protect IVF treatments.
Other Legislation: On Wednesday, Sens. Katie Britt (R-AL) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) renewed an alternative IVF protection bill that they introduced several weeks ago. Democrats were unsatisfied with the loopholes it left open for state legislatures, they said.
The Context: IVF is a fertilization procedure done in a laboratory. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that IVF embryos are children in February, sparking debate within the pro-life movement. While some oppose the destruction of unused embryos in IVF treatment, a poll of pro-life advocates found 78% supported IVF treatments.
Key Quotes: “In vitro fertilization is legal and available in every state across our nation. We strongly support continued nationwide access to IVF, which has allowed millions of aspiring parents to start and grow their families," the GOP Senate conference said in a statement. “Despite claiming to support IVF, Senate Republicans blocked my Right to IVF Act. This is the third time they’ve blocked legislation to protect IVF nationwide. This is who Republicans are,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).
How the Media Covered It: Outlets on the left were more likely to omit the Britt-Cruz bill from their reporting, while The New York Post (Lean Right) included it in their headline. Outlets in the center tended to include it near the end of the article.
Featured Coverage of this Story
AFP via Getty Images
Senate Republicans tanked an effort Thursday led by Democrats to advance legislation guaranteeing national access to in vitro fertilization, rallying around their alternative legislation instead.
In a 48-47 procedural vote, Senate Republicans torpedoed the advancement of that bill, with only Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowska (R-Alaska) siding joining Democrats. It needed 60 to pass.
Many groused about specifics of the language in the Right to IVF Act and accused Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) of teeing up a show vote rather than seeking a viable solution on the matter.
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Doug McSchooler/AP
The Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest and most politically powerful Protestant denomination, voted Wednesday to oppose in vitro fertilization.
The move may signal the beginning of a broad turn on the right against IVF, an issue that many evangelicals, anti-abortion advocates and other social conservatives see as the “pro-life” movement’s next frontier — one they hope will eventually lead to restrictions, or outright bans, on IVF at the state and federal levels.
ANNABELLE GORDON/CNP/ZUMA PRESS
Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic bill protecting in vitro fertilization, while also working to reassure constituents that they supported access to the popular fertility treatment, underscoring how reproductive health issues have become a political vulnerability for GOP lawmakers.
The vote was 48 to 47, with Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska siding with Democrats in backing the bill. The measure fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance under Senate rules.
