The Senate blocked a bill to codify protections for accessing contraception, a significant legislative move before the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, joined Democrats in support, but the bill failed with a 51-39 vote, short of the required 60 votes.
The bill aimed to ensure health care professionals could provide contraception and related information, and guarantee individuals’ rights to access contraception. Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer voted no to potentially reintroduce the bill later.
Democrats expressed concern over access to contraception, citing the 1973 Roe decision’s basis on the 1965 Griswold v. Connecticut case, which protected married couples’ rights to use contraception. President Joe Biden criticized the Senate’s inaction, stating, “Senate Republicans just refused to protect a woman’s right to birth control.”
Public opinion shows support for contraception rights, with 45% of U.S. adults considering it a secure right, according to a KFF poll. Democrats have heightened their calls to protect contraception access, particularly after Justice Clarence Thomas suggested reconsidering Griswold in the Dobbs decision.
Republicans criticized the bill for potentially infringing on religious freedoms and proposed an alternative bill focused on over-the-counter contraceptives and a federal spending review. Democrats rejected this alternative, leading to accusations of partisan motivations.
Reproductive rights, including contraception, remain crucial for the Biden campaign, which is mobilizing voters around this issue in key states. A survey by KAConsulting revealed broad support for contraception access across political parties, with 87% of women favoring candidates who prioritize it.
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