Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia has stated that he will vote against his party’s abortion measure because it goes too far, yet he has stated that he would support a codifying of Roe v. Wade. The Women’s Health Protection Act, which was defeated in a February vote, appears to be certain to fail once more, with all 50 Republicans & Manchin opposing it.
WATCH MANCHIN:
“We’re going to vote on a piece of legislation that I’m not going to vote for tonight,” Manchin told reporters.
“However, if it were today, I would vote for a Roe v. Wade definition.” I was hoping for that, but I found out in caucus yesterday that that wasn’t going to happen,” he continued, as reported.
Manchin had previously kept his choice on the Wednesday vote a secret, stating that he would likely wait until at least Tuesday to determine whether to favor the measure.
Senator Bob Casey, a self-described “pro-life” Democrat from Pennsylvania, was the other member of the party whose support was in doubt before the Wednesday vote.
On Tuesday, Casey stated his support for the measure. He claimed to have changed his mind in light of recent events, such as the recent release of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s draft of a court ruling, which suggested a possible return of abortion legislation to individual states.
“This month, I will vote yes to forwarding discussion on the Women’s Health Protection Act, and if a vote on final approval is held in the future, I will support the law,” Casey said in a speech.
“The conditions surrounding the entire abortion issue have altered in the roughly three months since the Senate previously voted on the Women’s Health Protection Act. The true question at the moment is whether you favor a categorical ban on abortion in light of the published Supreme Court opinion draft reversing Roe v. Wade and following rumors that Republicans in the US House and Senate would submit legislation to implement a countrywide six-week ban. “I have never voted for, and I do not support, such a restriction throughout my tenure in public service,” he continued.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) promised to press for a vote on Wednesday to force every senator to go on record in support of abortion rights legislation before the Supreme Court rules.
In remarks on the Senate floor last week, Schumer said, “Come next week, Senate Republicans will have to explain for all they’ve done over the years to empower the far right’s enmity against a woman’s decision.” “They will not be able to escape from the American people, and they will not be able to disguise their involvement in overturning Roe. Next week’s election will reveal. “America will be on the lookout.”