Senate Dems to hold vote on birth control protections

Also inside: Two Republican lawmakers in New Hampshire nearly come to blows

For years leading up to the June 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, Republican lawmakers, their allies in the media, and even a Pulitzer Prize-winning D.C. columnist assured us that Roe was safe.

We all know how that worked out. 

Since then, Republicans have once again tried to assure us that while they opposed abortion and supported the end of Roe, they would NEVER target birth control, which 90% of American women have used in their lifetime.

But the same sort of far-right activists who helped build momentum to target Roe are now doing the same thing with birth control. Even Donald Trump recently suggested he might seek to impose restrictions on birth control, before walking it back and promising to protect access to contraception amid backlash.

So, if that’s the case–and if Republicans insist they have no issue with birth control–then they’d vote to protect it at the federal level, right? Right? We’ll learn the answer next week when the Senate votes on the Right to Contraception Act. 

“The American people have a right to know where their elected officials stand on protecting the rights and reproductive care,” Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said last week. We agree, and we’ll be eager to see if Republicans really support birth control access, or are just playing politics.

More from COURIER’s other newsrooms:

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Near-brawl between Republicans in NH State House prompts fears of gun violence by lawmakers

From Granite Post: Two Republican state representatives nearly came to blows on the floor of the NH State House after an attempt to keep a bipartisan gun bill alive led to personal character attacks by Republicans opposed to the legislation.

IOWA

Trump: ‘We’re looking at’ restricting birth control

From Iowa Starting Line: Former president Donald Trump said he was looking at the possibility of restricting access to birth control but also alluded to a state-by-state approach to limiting contraception access.

NEVADA

Nevada Republican congressional candidate takes aim at birthright citizenship

From The Nevadan: The former mayor of North Las Vegas running to unseat Nevada US Rep. Steven Horsford suggested to a local conservative radio station in April that he favors ending birthright citizenship.

PENNSYLVANIA

Dave McCormick tries to outrun his anti-abortion views

From The Keystone: In recent months, McCormick, the Republican nominee running against US Sen. Bob Casey this fall, has had a difficult time figuring out—and communicating—his position on abortion.

ARIZONA

Judge sets $10,000 bond after Giuliani fails to appear for booking in Arizona fake elector case

From Copper Courier: Giuliani, who appeared in court virtually, was ordered by a Superior Court of Maricopa County judge to pay a $10,000 secured appearance bond due to the difficulty prosecutors had in serving him his indictment notice. 

NORTH CAROLINA

‘Complete disregard for human life’: Doctors reflect on NC’s abortion ban

From Cardinal & Pine: In interviews with Cardinal & Pine, doctors laid out the ban’s impact in North Carolina, describing a landscape of delays, backlogs, and hesitancy that forces doctors to consult lawyers before saving patients’ lives.

MICHIGAN

Meet the Michigan workers supporting Biden over Trump

From The ‘Gander: Union workers are standing behind President Joe Biden’s efforts to invest in manufacturing, infrastructure, and clean energy—and sounding alarms over what another Trump administration could mean for Michigan’s middle class.

VIRGINIA

Lara Bury of VA’s Red Wine and Blue explains how contraception helps thousands of women lead normal lives

From Dogwood: Birth control pills are the only way Lara Bury’s daughter can lead an everyday life. Bury shares this story after Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed the Right to Contraception Act this month.

WISCONSIN

One of Wisconsin’s younger leaders calls out Hovde for comments about older voters

From Up North News: Rep. Francesca Hong (D-Madison) couldn’t be more emphatic about defending the right of elderly Wisconsinites to vote in light of a controversy ignited by Republican US Senate candidate Eric Hovde.

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