Every now and then, a refreshing wind blows in a politician who votes on principle rather than along strict party lines — Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., is such a politician.
On Wednesday, Manchin announced he will not support a Pelosi-Schumer pushed Democratic abortion bill when it is up for a procedural vote on Wednesday afternoon, stating “it goes too far.”
Manchin’s telegraphed vote puts the Women’s Health Protection Act in peril — likely to fail as it did in February — as all 50 Republicans and Manchin are set to oppose the proposal.
“We’re going to be voting for a piece of legislation that I will not be voting for today,” Manchin told reporters, according to the Daily Wire.
CBS correspondent Alan He tweeted the update.
Manchin said that while he supports women’s rights and would vote for a bill that would legalize abortion on the federal level, the current bill before the Senate now “is not what I was hoping for and what I expected.”
Manchin added:
“I was hopeful that the Democratic Party having control of the agenda would put a piece of legislation forward that would codify Roe v. Wade,” Manchin said, adding that 70% of the American people want this.
Manchin noted that though he was willing to support Roe v. Wade, he was not willing to expand it nor infringe on state’s rights:
“To me, that would be the reasonable, rational thing to do. The bill we have today to vote on, the Women’s Health Protection Act … make no mistake, it is not Roe v. Wade codification, it is an expansion. It wipes 500–500 state laws off the books. It expands abortion.”
Manchin also criticized the bill pushed by his party, saying it goes too far and is “extremely political” and divisive:
“We should not be dividing this country further than we’re already divided,” he said. “And it’s really the politics of Congress that’s dividing the country. It’s not the people. They’re telling us what they want. And it’s just disappointing that we’re going to be voting on a piece of legislation which I will not vote for today. But I would vote for Roe v. Wade codification if it was today, I was hopeful for that. But I found out yesterday in caucus that wasn’t going to be.”
When asked to clarify his position, Manchin said, “I’ve been pro-life all my life. I believe strongly in my religion.”
Fox News reports that Manchin believes in exceptions for cases such as rape and incest and supports abortion rights consistent with Roe v. Wade because it’s been “the law of this land.”
“Maybe my pro-life might not be someone else’s pro-life,” Manchin said, “but I know how I feel. Life is – it’s a gift.”
Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, a self-described “pro-life” Democrat, announced he would support the bill.
“This week, I will again vote yes to advance debate on the Women’s Health Protection Act and I will support the bill if there is a vote on final passage in the future,” Casey said in a statement.
Somehow linking a leaked memo, which does not ban abortion, to the need to override his pro-life convictions, Casey said:
“In the nearly three months since the Senate last voted on the Women’s Health Protection Act, the circumstances around the entire debate on abortion have changed.”
“In light of the leaked Supreme Court decision draft overturning Roe v. Wade, and subsequent reports that Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate will introduce legislation to enact a nationwide six-week ban, the real question of the moment is: do you support a categorical ban on abortion? During my time in public office, I have never voted for—nor do I support—such a ban,” he added.
An angry Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., vowed to force every senator to go on record regarding the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.
“Come next week, Senate Republicans will have to answer for everything they’ve done over the years to embolden the hard right’s hostility against a woman’s choice,” Schumer said on the Senate floor last week. “They will not be able to hide from the American people and cannot hide their role in bringing Roe to an end. The vote will tell, next week. America will be watching.”
Many Republicans are delighted with the vote as they believe the extreme position does not resonate with most Americans and that it will further compromise Democratic candidates in the midterms.
Schumer sees it differently, yowling to senators: “All week we’ve been seeing Republicans try to duck, dodge and dip from their responsibility for bringing Roe to the brink of total repeal.”
Schumer added: That’s what they’ve been trying to do for decades. Next week, the American people will see crystal clear that when given the chance to right this wrong, the Republican Party will either side with the extremists who want to ban abortion without exceptions, or side with women, with families and the vast majority of Americans.”
This is a developing story.
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