McConnell shies away from supporting national abortion ban
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has not said whether he supports a 15-week federal ban on abortions, with exceptions, but he told NBC’s “Meet the Press”: “I don’t think we’ll get 60 votes in the Senate.” Sheikhs of any kind.” to national legislation.”
McConnell made clear that he believes this is an issue that should be decided in every state, telling moderator Kristen Welker: “I’m not advocating for anything at that level. I think it will be resolved across the country and it will be very different in different states.” States.”
Since the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in the women’s health case Dobbs v. Jackson striking down the constitutional right to abortion, states have enacted a host of laws that promote or prevent access to abortion. 10 states have expanded access to abortion while 14 have imposed near-total bans. According to the analysis By the pro-abortion rights group Center for Reproductive Rights.
However, some at the federal level, including Senator Lindsey Graham, have sought to pass national abortion restrictions. In late 2022, after the Dobbs decision, Graham Introduce a bill It would federally ban most abortions at 15 weeks.
On Thursday, McConnell framed the proposed legislation as purely political, saying: “I don’t think any federal legislation is likely to get 60 votes in the Senate either way.”
He added, “It seems to me that views on this issue at the state level differ depending on where you are. We are elected by the states. And my members are smart enough to know how they want to handle this very divisive issue based on the people they actually send here.”
Over the past two years, Democrats have seized on abortion as a campaign issue, tying Republicans to the Supreme Court’s decision and its statewide ban.
Earlier this month, former President Donald Trump tried to sideline the issue to benefit his presidential campaign, telling reporters in Atlanta that He will not sign a federal abortion ban If it comes to his desk as president.
In an interview Thursday, Welker also asked McConnell for a statement Made in 2022 When he said: “A national ban is possible.”
“I said it was possible. I didn’t say that was my point. I just said it was possible,” McConnell said Thursday.
