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Wednesday 19 OctOber 2022
Biden vows abortion legislation as top priority next year

future of your generation."
From Front Court decisions and state
legislation have shifted —
By SEUNG MIN KIM and sometimes, re-shifted
Associated Press — the status of abortion
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- laws across the country.
dent Joe Biden promised Currently, bans are in place
Tuesday that the first bill he at all states of pregnancy
sends to Capitol Hill next in 12 states. In another,
year will be one that writes Wisconsin, clinics have
abortion protections into stopped providing abor-
law — if Democrats control tions though there's dispute
enough seats in Congress over whether a ban is in ef-
to pass it — as he sought to fect. In Georgia, abortion
energize his party's voters is banned at the detection
just three weeks ahead of of cardiac activity -- gener-
the November midterms. ally around six weeks and
Twice over, Biden urged before women often know
people to remember how they're pregnant.
they felt in late June when Meanwhile, codifying Roe
the Supreme Court over- remains a broadly popular
turned the landmark 1973 position. In a July AP-NORC
Roe v. Wade ruling that poll, 60% of U.S. adults said
legalized abortion, fresh they believe Congress
evidence of White House should pass a law guar-
efforts to ensure the issue President Joe Biden speaks about abortion access during a Democratic National Committee anteeing access to legal
stays front of mind for Dem- event at the Howard Theatre, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, in Washington. abortion nationwide.
ocratic voters this year. Associated Press Even with the economy
"I want to remind us all how dominating so much of the
we felt when 50 years of up seats in the Senate — licans — have both said to capitalize on the issue, midterm discourse, abor-
constitutional precedent an unlikely scenario con- they support eliminating with Marjorie Dannenfelser, tion has been a touchstone
was overturned," Biden sidering current political the filibuster in order to pass president of Susan B. Antho- in high-profile contests from
said in remarks at the How- dynamics. Abortion rights abortion legislation. Penn- ny Pro-Life America, saying Ohio to Arizona, especially
ard Theatre, "the anger, the have been a key motivat- sylvania Senate candidate Tuesday that the stakes of as Democrats try to trap
worry, the disbelief." ing factor for Democrats John Fetterman has active- next month's midterm elec- Republicans between their
He repeatedly lambasted this year, although the ly campaigned on being tions "could not be higher." most ardent anti-abortion
Republicans nationwide economy and inflation still the 51st vote for priorities "Doubling down on an ex- base voters who want ab-
who have pushed for re- rank as chief concern for such as legalizing abor- treme agenda of abortion solute or near-total bans
strictions on the procedure, most voters. tion, codifying same-sex on demand until birth won't and a majority of U.S. adults
often without exceptions, Abolishing the filibuster — marriage protections, and stop Democrats from losing that wants at least some
and told Democrats in at- the legislative rule that re- making it easier for workers Congress, even with the legal access to elective
tendance that "if you care quires 60 votes for most bills to unionize — all measures abortion industry spending abortions.
about the right to choose, to advance in the Senate that would otherwise be record sums to elect them," For instance, in Georgia,
then you gotta vote." — amid opposition in their blocked by a filibuster in Dannenfelser said. "Biden's Republican Senate nomi-
As he has done all year, own ranks will also pose a the Senate. party is on the wrong side nee Herschel Walker went
Biden emphasized that significant challenge for Abortion — and proposals and stunningly out of touch. so far in his only debate
only Congress can fully re- Democrats. from some Republicans to On Tuesday, Biden made a against Sen. Raphael War-
store abortion access to Long resistant to any revi- impose nationwide restric- pointed appeal to young nock, a Democrat, as to
what it was before the Su- sions to Senate institutional tions on the procedure — voters, who traditionally deny his previous support
preme Court's decision in rules, Biden said in the days have been a regular fixture participate in lower rates for a national abortion
Dobbs v. Jackson, which after the June decision to of Biden's political rheto- than other age demo- ban with no exceptions.
overturned Roe. But he also overrule Roe that he would ric this election cycle, as graphics in midterm elec- Despite Walker's previous
acknowledged "we're short support eliminating the su- Democrats seek to ener- tions. Though his remarks statements captured on
a handful of votes" now to permajority threshold for gize voters in a difficult mid- were primarily focused on video, he insisted Warnock
reinstate abortion protec- abortion bills, just as he did term season for the party in abortion, Biden also men- misrepresented his position.
tions at the federal level, on voting rights legislation. power in Washington. tioned his decisions to for- Walker said in the debate
urging voters to send more But two moderate Demo- In fundraisers and in po- give billions of dollars in stu- that he backs a Georgia
Democrats to Congress. crats — Sens. Kyrsten Sine- litical speeches, Biden dent loan debt and to issue statute outlawing abortion
"If we do that, here's the ma, Ariz., and Joe Man- has vowed to reject any pardons for marijuana pos- after six weeks of preg-
promise I make to you and chin, W.Va. — support abortion restrictions that session — moves popular nancy – an effective ban
the American people: The keeping the filibuster. Sine- may come to his desk in a with younger voters. for some women because
first bill that I will send to the ma has said she wants to GOP-controlled Congress. "What I am saying is, you it's so early they don't yet
Congress will be to codify retain the filibuster precisely Like he did on Tuesday, represent the best of us. know they're pregnant. The
Roe v. Wade," Biden said. so any abortion restrictions Biden has also urged vot- Your generation will not law includes exceptions for
"And when Congress pass- backed by Republicans ers to boost the Demo- be ignored, will not be later abortions in cases of
es it, I'll sign it in January, 50 would face a much higher cratic ranks in the Senate shunned and will not be si- rape, incest and involving
years after Roe was first de- hurdle to pass in the Sen- so enough senators would lent," Biden said, adding: "In health risks to a woman.
cided the law of the land." ate. not only support reinstating 2020, you voted to deliver Warnock, meanwhile,
That's a big if. Democratic Senate candi- abortion nationwide, but the change you wanted avoided direct questions
For Biden to follow through dates in Pennsylvania and would change Senate rules to see in the world. In 2022, about whether he'd sup-
on his pledge, Democrats Wisconsin — the party's two to do it. you need to exercise your port any abortion limits, in-
would have to retain con- best chances to flip seats Opponents of abortion power to vote again for the stead turning the question
trol of the House and pick currently held by Repub- rights have also sought future of our nation and the to Walker's position.q