ICYMI: A majority of Americans reject so-called government “negotiation” once they learn it could restrict access and choice and chill the innovation of new treatments and cures.
Put Republican candidates in the position of having to answer whether they agree with the GOP leader and support nationwide restrictions on access to abortion.Whereas some Republicans have talked about allowing states to set their own abortion laws, McConnell’s words suggest that Republicans actually support nationwide restrictions, decided in Washington instead of individual states.
Give Democrats a potent response to one of the arguments we’ve heard from conservatives since the release of the draft opinion overturning Roe.All but ensure another week of abortion-related headlines that Republicans may not like.And where last week enabled them to change the conversation from inflation to the likelihood of Roe being overturned, McConnell’s comments … The comments have lit a fire under Democrats, who’ve been panicked about their midterm prospects until now. Underlining the point, he added: “I don’t think it’s much of a secret where Senate Republicans stand on that issue.” What he said: “If the leaked opinion became the final opinion, legislative bodies - not only at the state level but at the federal level - could certainly legislate in that area,” he said, adding that a ruling overturning Roe would bring the nation to a “point that should be resolved one way or another in the legislative process.” In it, McConnell suggested a nationwide abortion ban was “possible” if Republicans take over Washington. So, Congress will continue to debate this issue.” Expect to hear similar talking points from the GOP all week.Ģ) DEMOCRATS SEIZE ON MCCONNELL’S NATIONAL ABORTION BAN REMARKS - Democratic strategists are salivating over comments Senate Minority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL made in a USA Today interview that published Saturday. “We’re one of seven nations in the world that allow abortion on-demand at 20 weeks, the fifth month in pregnancy. “Schumer … is insisting we vote to legalize abortion to the day before birth,” he said, touting his own proposal to ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-S.C.) did exactly that. As we reported last week in Playbook, the NRSC is encouraging GOP candidates to change the topic from abortion rights overall to less-popular facets of the issue where Republicans feel they can win.
Republicans are already previewing the talking points they’ll employ as they move to filibuster the bill. (Schumer, ever the political animal, has chosen the former approach.) Among Democrats, there’s a debate over whether the party is better off trying to go it alone on this legislation (all the better to use to pummel the GOP on the campaign trail), or to take a more bipartisan approach by calling up an alternative to the Blumenthal bill that is narrower in its scope and backed by two Republican senators supportive of abortion rights: Maine’s SUSAN COLLINS and Alaska’s LISA MURKOWSKI. The move will set up the upper chamber for a Wednesday vote - though the roll call will almost certainly fail to garner the 60 votes needed to clear the filibuster, as happened to a similar proposal earlier this year. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-Conn.) that would enshrine a statutory right to abortion nationwide. Two major storylines to watch this week, as Democrats gear up to go on offense:ġ) SENATE TEES UP ABORTION VOTE - Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER is expected to file cloture today on a bill by Sen. Wade sucks up all the oxygen in Washington. Get ready for yet another week dominated by the debate over abortion rights, as the impending decision expected to overturn Roe v. | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images DRIVING THE DAY Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is expected to file cloture today on a bill that would enshrine a statutory right to abortion nationwide.