The legislation, which states that “protections for access to abortion rights … should be supported," was blocked by Republicans who panned it as a “show vote.”
Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked legislation led by Democrats to revive the protections of Roe v. Wade in the wake of the Supreme Court eliminating the nationwide right to abortion.
The vote was 49-44, falling short of the super-majority needed to defeat a filibuster due to broad opposition from Republicans, who dismissed it as a political stunt.
The Reproductive Freedom for Women Act, introduced last month around the second anniversary of the court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, is just a few sentences long. It states that “protections for access to abortion rights and other reproductive health care” after the 2022 ruling “should be supported.” It adds that “the protections enshrined in* Roe v. Wade …* should be restored and built upon, moving towards a future where there is reproductive freedom for all.”
They’re too old now, they don’t have the energy to stand and talk for hours so they just “declare” the filibuster and go home for tapioca and Gold Bond.
All the more reason to make them work for it. If they can’t stand on and defend their principles, then they need to get out of the way and at least let things come up for a vote.
The filibuster should also require the person to stay on topic, so no reading “Green eggs and ham” to run out the clock unless the book is relevant to the legislation.
Or better yet, just ditch it because requiring a majority of two chambers and the presidents signature (or overwhelming support in both chambers) is a high enough bar to meet already.
Agreed!
Too old to do their job? American politicians?