1/ Senate Democrats moved to vote on a bill to codify abortion rights into federal law in the wake of a leaked Supreme Court draft decision that would strike down Roe v. Wade. The vote, however, is all but certain to be blocked by Republicans because the bill needs 60 votes to advance. Senate Democrats are also short of the 50 votes needed to eliminate the filibuster. In February, the Senate voted on the House-passed Women’s Health Protection Act, which failed to advance in a 46 to 48 vote. Joe Manchin, meanwhile, reiterated that he still supports the filibuster, calling it “the only protection we have of democracy right now.” And Susan Collins, one of two Republican senators who support abortion rights, said she doesn’t support legislation to create a statutory right to abortion because the measure doesn’t “protect the right of a Catholic hospital to not perform abortions.” She added: “It supersedes all other federal and state laws, including the conscience protections that are in the Affordable Care Act.” Nevertheless, Chuck Schumer said the vote would be one of “the most important we ever take.” 52% of women of childbearing age in the U.S. would live in states where their right to an abortion is restrictive if Roe v. Wade is overturned. (New York Times / NPR / Washington Post / The Hill / NBC News / ABC News / Politico)
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2022/05/05/day-471/