Biden warns of ‘extreme and dangerous abortion bans’ put in place by Republicans
Wisconsin Republicans unanimously opposed legislation that would have protected access to abortion.
Marking the 51st anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision that affirmed the constitutional right to an abortion, President Joe Biden released a statement on Jan. 22 supporting reproductive rights.
The Roe decision was overturned in June 2022 when the Supreme Court released its decision in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The 6-3 ruling rescinded the federal right to an abortion.
In his statement, Biden said:
A year and a half ago, the Court made the extreme decision to overturn Roe and take away a constitutional right. As a result, tens of millions of women now live in states with extreme and dangerous abortion bans. Because of Republican elected officials, women’s health and lives are at risk. In states across the country, women are being turned away from emergency rooms, forced to go to court to seek permission for the medical attention they need, and made to travel hundreds of miles for health care.
Even as Americans—from Ohio to Kentucky to Michigan to Kansas to California—have resoundingly rejected attempts to limit reproductive freedom, Republican elected officials continue to push for a national ban and devastating new restrictions across the country.
In addition to supporting federal legislation that would restrict abortion rights, Republican lawmakers have opposed legislation that would codify the Roe vs. Wade decision and enshrine protection of the right to an abortion in federal law.
In September 2021, when Democrats were in the majority, the House passed the Women’s Health Protection Act, which contained such protections, on a party line vote. It was opposed by all of the Republicans in Wisconsin’s congressional delegation and backed by all of the state’s congressional Democrats.
In a May 2022 Senate vote, the legislation was opposed by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI). The measure did not cross the required 60-vote threshold to proceed to debate; all Republicans in the chamber and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) voted against proceeding.
Following the vote, Johnson told the Wall Street Journal that he didn’t think much would change if Roe was overturned.
“It might be a little messy for some people, but abortion is not going away,” Johnson said.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) backed the bill and in March 2023 introduced a new version of the bill for consideration in the Senate.
“Every American deserves the freedom to make their own health care decisions without interference from politicians, and Wisconsinites overwhelmingly agree. The Women’s Health Protection Act is a necessary step to restore Americans’ constitutional right to choose what’s best for their families and allow doctors to do the job they are trained to do – all free from medically unnecessary restrictions,” Baldwin said in a statement about the new bill
The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2023 has been placed on the Senate legislative calendar but has not yet been brought up for consideration.
Public opinion polling has shown overwhelming support for abortion rights.
In a Navigator Research poll of 1,000 registered voters conducted Jan. 4-8, 58% of respondents said that overturning Roe had been bad for the country, including 62% of political independents, 80% of Democrats, and 31% of Republicans.
In addition, 66% of respondents said they oppose a federal abortion ban, and 61% said they support Congress passing a law guaranteeing a right to an abortion.
