Two days that could shape abortion access and the future of American health care

Analysis by Stephen Collinson, CNN
Thu April 20, 2023

The future of a widely used medication to end pregnancies, the health care options of American women and even the viability of US regulatory approvals for routine drugs are all in question as the Supreme Court deliberates on a critical abortion case ahead of a deadline extended to Friday.

Justice Samuel Alito gave the court more time Wednesday, extending a temporary hold on an order by a Texas judge, which would block approval of the mifepristone, and on a subsequent appeals court ruling, which would let the government’s approval of the drug stand but agreed access could be limited. It’s the most important abortion case since the high court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. The extension, until 11:59 p.m. ET Friday, means the drug remains available. But the possibility of health care chaos will not ease over the next 48 hours.

Continued: https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/20/politics/abortion-access-supreme-court-analysis/index.html

What to make of Amy Coney Barrett’s answers on Roe v. Wade so far, according to experts

‘I can’t pre-commit,’ Barrett said on the second day of confirmation hearings

Lena Felton
October 14

Abortion access took center stage within the first hour of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s questioning of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett on Tuesday. That was no surprise; along with the Affordable Care Act and LGBTQ protections, it’s been one of the most contentious issues since President Trump nominated her. Trump has pledged to appoint justices that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that legalized abortion nationwide in 1973.

The Judiciary Committee’s ranking Democrat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), who was second in the questioning lineup, started with a long introduction to the topic, describing watching other young women in the 1950s try to obtain illegal abortions. The issue is “of a great importance, because it goes to a woman’s fundamental right to make the most personal decisions about their own body,” Feinstein said.

Continued: https://www.thelily.com/what-to-make-of-amy-coney-barretts-answers-on-roe-v-wade-so-far-according-to-experts/

USA – Democrats diverge on outreach to anti-abortion swing voters

Democrats diverge on outreach to anti-abortion swing voters

By ELANA SCHOR
Feb 18, 2020

NEW YORK (AP) — In a party that’s shifted leftward on abortion rights, Democratic presidential hopefuls are offering different approaches to a central challenge: how to talk to voters without a clear home in the polarizing debate over the government’s role in the decision to end a pregnancy.

While Bernie Sanders said this month that “being pro-choice is an absolutely essential part of being a Democrat,” his presidential primary opponent Amy Klobuchar took a more open stance last week in saying that anti-abortion Democrats “are part of our party.” Klobuchar’s perfect voting score from major abortion-rights groups makes her an unlikely ally, but some abortion opponents nonetheless lauded the Minnesota senator for extending a hand to those on the other side of an issue that’s especially important for Catholics and other devout voters.

Continued: https://apnews.com/f1bcf5ca695fdbb9214980727ebb22ca

USA – Democrats Discuss Abortion Rights in Depth at Debate

Democrats Discuss Abortion Rights in Depth at Debate
The candidates had their most significant discussion about abortion in any debate yet, tackling an issue whose absence from previous debates has angered advocates.

By Stephanie Saul
Feb. 7, 2020

In their most substantive debate statements to date on abortion, several of the leading Democratic presidential candidates reaffirmed on Friday night that if elected, they would put forward only Supreme Court nominees who supported Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision establishing a woman’s right to abortion.

Historically, many presidential candidates have shied away from an outright litmus test on abortion or any other issue, arguing that Supreme Court justices should not be selected based on their political positions but on their experience and jurisprudence. But that has changed this campaign cycle.

Continued: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/us/politics/abortion-litmus-test-debate.html

USA – Why Democrats who oppose abortion rights are finding it harder to remain in the party

Why Democrats who oppose abortion rights are finding it harder to remain in the party

By Sarah Pulliam Bailey
Jan. 31, 2020

President Bill Clinton famously wanted to make abortion “safe, legal and rare.” Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton used that same phrase and added, “and by rare, I mean rare.” And President Barack Obama invited voters across the aisle to work to reduce the number of abortions.

But those kinds of rhetorical olive branches to voters who oppose abortion rights have been mostly absent from the 2020 Democratic campaign.

Continued: https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/01/31/why-democrats-who-oppose-abortion-rights-are-finding-it-harder-remain-party/

Amy Klobuchar: ‘I will reverse Trump abortion policies in the first 100 days’

Amy Klobuchar: 'I will reverse Trump abortion policies in the first 100 days'
The Democratic presidential candidate, who is rising in the Iowa polls, puts reproductive rights at heart of campaign

Ed Pilkington
Sat 14 Dec 2019

Amy Klobuchar, one of few viable women remaining in the Democratic presidential race, has vowed to reverse Donald Trump’s key anti-abortion measures in her first 100 days in office were she to prevail in next year’s epic battle for the White House.

Klobuchar, the senator from Minnesota who is creeping up in the polls in the vital first-to-vote state of Iowa, laid out aggressive steps she would take to shore up reproductive rights were she to win the Democratic nomination and defeat Trump.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/14/amy-klobuchar-abortion-reproductive-rights-interview

On Abortion Rights, 2020 Democrats Move Past ‘Safe, Legal and Rare’

On Abortion Rights, 2020 Democrats Move Past ‘Safe, Legal and Rare’
The Democratic presidential candidates don’t want to simply defend abortion rights. They want to go on offense.

New York Times
By Maggie Astor
Nov. 25, 2019

The Democratic presidential field has coalesced around an abortion rights agenda more far-reaching than anything past nominees have proposed, according to a New York Times survey of the campaigns. The positions reflect a hugely consequential shift on one of the country’s most politically divisive issues.

Every candidate The Times surveyed supports codifying Roe v. Wade in federal law, allowing Medicaid coverage of abortion by repealing the Hyde Amendment, and removing funding restrictions for organizations that provide abortion referrals. Almost all of them say they would nominate only judges who support abortion rights, an explicit pledge Democrats have long avoided.

Continued: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/25/us/politics/abortion-laws-2020-democrats.html

USA – The November Democratic Debate Covered Abortion Only Briefly

The November Democratic Debate Covered Abortion Only Briefly

By Leila Barghouty
Nov 21, 2019

Abortion access took a last-minute run in the spotlight during Wednesday’s Democratic Debate in Atlanta, Georgia, a state that recently passed one of the country’s most restrictive anti-choice laws. Each candidate took a different approach to addressing abortion access in the U.S.; Sen. Cory Booker tied the issue to voter suppression, calling back to Georgia’s highly contested gubernatorial election back in 2018. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Amy Klobuchar, however, all stressed their stances that abortion access is a fundamental right.

“I believe that abortion rights are human rights,” Warren said outright, responding to moderator Rachel Maddow’s question on whether or not there’s room in the Democratic party for anti-choice politicians. Warren took things a step further, however, stressing that she believes abortion rights are directly intertwined with income inequality in the U.S..

Continued: https://www.bustle.com/p/the-november-democratic-debate-covered-abortion-only-briefly-19371994

21.11.2019

Democratic candidates and abortion

USA – There Was Finally A Debate Question About Abortion Last Night

There Was Finally A Debate Question About Abortion Last Night

Natalie Gontcharova
Last Updated October 16, 2019

With hundreds of new abortion restrictions introduced this year in state legislatures, constant court battles over extreme abortion bans, and Roe v. Wade hanging in the balance, it was long overdue that a Democratic debate would address reproductive rights. Last night during the fourth Democratic presidential primary debate, it finally happened, and (unsurprisingly) it took a female moderator to get the ball rolling: CNN’s Erin Burnett asked Sen. Kamala Harris what she would do to keep states from enacting laws like the one in Ohio banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, a time when most women don’t even know they’re pregnant. This also gave the other candidates an opportunity to discuss their own proposals.

Continued: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/10/8581810/democratic-candidates-abortion-rights-debate

USA – Democrats need to win women in 2020. The debate showed the candidates know that.

Democrats need to win women in 2020. The debate showed the candidates know that.
Abortion, maternal mortality, and other issues that disproportionately affect women were front and center at the debate.

By Anna North Jun 27, 2019

“Democrats have been talking about the pay gap for decades,” moderator Savannah Guthrie asked at the first Democratic presidential debate on Wednesday. “What would do you to ensure that women are paid fairly in this country?”

The question, and its answers, set a tone. Issues affecting women — as well as people of all genders who become pregnant — were front and center at the debate.

Continued: https://www.vox.com/2019/6/27/18760657/democratic-debate-june-2019-2020-gender-abortion