Senate Republicans block Democratic votes on abortion bills
Source: The Hill
07/09/24 5:22 PM ET
Senate Republicans blocked an attempt by Democrats to pass a series of abortion-related bills Tuesday, as the party seeks to keep a focus on abortion and access to reproductive health care ahead of the November election.
One bill was aimed at protecting the freedom to travel across state lines to access abortion care. Another bill would have protected doctors in states where abortion is legal from being held liable for providing services to patients from other states, and a third bill was meant to support training more abortion care providers.
Not a single one of these bills should be controversial. To oppose these bills, as Republicans have just done, is truly extreme, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said on the Senate floor. It seems when it comes to abortion, there is no bill too simple for Republicans to oppose, there is no right too basic for Republicans to attack, and no problem too important for Republicans to ignore.
Democrats tried to pass each of the three bills by unanimous consent, meaning just one Republican needed to object in each case. The bills are part of Senate Democrats months-long focus on abortion, meant to highlight the differences between the parties on abortion rights and womens access to health care. Democrats want to keep abortion in the front of voters minds and highlight what they say is Republican extremism.
Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4762728-senate-republicans-block-democratic-votes-abortion-bills/

Hermit-The-Prog
(36,631 posts)
Hermit-The-Prog
(36,631 posts)jaxexpat
(7,794 posts)BumRushDaShow
(151,461 posts)If they can't get 60 then it would be dead anyway.
Doing the "unanimous consent" is an expedited procedure that believe it or not, is used extensively by the Senate to pass most simple types of legislation and/or resolutions, so it's often a normal first step to take.
At this point, the next step now would be to go with "regular order", which will require scheduling a cloture vote.
I am Neo
(17 posts)Republicans would in a heartbeat and have.
BumRushDaShow
(151,461 posts)
To change the Senate Rules they need a majority (51) and they don't have it.
With this next election and most certainly losing a seat, we have to make sure the remaining Senators get in so that we have a 50-50 split (with VP being the tie-breaker and Gallego picking up Sinema's seat).
Traurigkeit
(1,290 posts)Knock some sense into them
BumRushDaShow
(151,461 posts)One of the clarion calls for the 2022 election and part of what John Fetterman ran on was to be "the 51st vote" (at the time, (D)s + (Is) were 50 and (R)s were 50).
But it made no difference when you don't have 100% behind doing it.
Traurigkeit
(1,290 posts)SpankMe
(3,439 posts)Grins
(8,299 posts)Sorry. I tried to help but you voted Republican.