On what would have been the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling, MAGA Republicans are doubling down on their commitment to rolling back reproductive rights and working to go even further with extreme anti-abortion legislation across the country – from Congress to the states to the 2024 GOP primary. Despite how unpopular and dangerous their agenda is, Republicans are racing against themselves to take away Americans’ freedoms – and they’re not slowing down.
Earlier this week, Donald Trump insisted that he holds the strongest anti-abortion record by appointing the three Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Donald Trump: “Nobody has ever done more for right to life than Donald Trump. I put three Supreme Court justices who all voted, and they got something that they’ve been fighting for for 64 years.”
Donald Trump: “There has to be some form of punishment [for women who have abortions].”
Despite the dangerous ban already in place in Florida, Ron DeSantis has committed to signing legislation to restrict reproductive access even further.
Florida Politics: “Gov. DeSantis ‘ready to sign’ abortion ‘heartbeat bill’”
The Daily Signal: “‘The upcoming 2023 Florida legislative session starts in March, and we look forward to working with the Florida Legislature to further advance protections for innocent life,’ press secretary Bryan Griffin shared with The Daily Signal on Tuesday afternoon.”
Tallahassee Democrat: “In Florida, strategy sessions involving representatives of DeSantis, including his chief-of-staff, James Uthmeier, and anti-abortion advocates have already taken place, according to some participants who did not want to speak publicly about the internal discussions.
“DeSantis in his 2018 campaign for governor said during the Republican primary that he would support a law banning abortion when a fetal heartbeat is thought to be detected, usually around six weeks.”
Even so, DeSantis faced a scathing attack from Kristi Noem’s spokesperson for not being even more extreme on abortion than he already is.
Ian Fury, spokesman for Governor Noem: “Governor Noem was the only Governor in America on national television defending the Dobbs decision. Where was Governor DeSantis? Hiding behind a 15-week ban.”
Not to be outdone, Mike Pence’s political group is calling on Congress to pass an extreme abortion ban that would threaten doctors with jail time and legislation that could open the door to ban Plan B and some forms of birth control.
Advancing American Freedom Agenda: “We are calling on the 118th Congress to reintroduce these important measures and send them to the President’s desk to be enacted.”
TIME: “Fetal personhood laws could also impact contraception access, given that some members of the anti-abortion movement argue that IUDs and the emergency contraception Plan B can prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg and violate personhood, explains Mary Ziegler, an abortion law historian.”
WESA: “Kelly’s ‘Heartbeat Protection Act’ would essentially ban abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy — a time by which a pregnancy may not even have been detected… the bill provides no exception for pregnancies arising from rape or incest.”
Former Trump administration official Nikki Haley is also calling on Congress to pass Republicans’ slate of anti-abortion legislation.
Washington Examiner: “Former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) issued an impassioned plea to Congress on Wednesday, calling on lawmakers to vote to protect infants who are born alive during abortion procedures.”
HuffPost: “But similar to other anti-choice legislation, the bill is chock-full of misinformation and creates more barriers to care. Reproductive rights advocates and physicians critical of the bill argue that it’s nearly impossible for infants to be born alive during abortions later in pregnancy.”
Meanwhile in Virginia, Glenn Youngkin worked to help introduce an extreme abortion ban bill last week that threatens doctors with up to 10 years of jail time for providing care.
WRIC: “Under the legislation filed by Byron and Newman, physicians who perform or attempt to perform abortions after that threshold would face a Class 4 felony that carries a sentence of up to 10 years and a possible $100,000 fine.”
Washington Post: “‘Any bill that comes to my desk I will sign happily and gleefully in order to protect life,’ [Youngkin] said.”
It’s not just 2024 Republicans — House Republicans have also made clear that they are hellbent on taking away Americans’ freedoms by making anti-abortion legislation one of their first priorities. Majority Leader Steve Scalise even spoke at an extreme, anti-choice protest in Washington, DC.
Washington Post: “[New Jersey Congressman Chris] Smith — who is a co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus and said he attended the first March for Life in 1974 — and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) are both scheduled to speak at Friday’s March for Life rally. Scalise’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment.”
Washington Post: “Meanwhile, Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) says he plans to again introduce his bill banning most abortions after 15 weeks, though he hasn’t heard from Republican leadership whether they would put it up for a vote.”
Politico: Overturning Roe “was only the first phase of this battle,” House Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), the highest-ranking elected official to speak at the March, said to cheers. “Now the next phase begins.”
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