House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pushed back after being pressed on why President Joe Biden did not do more for Abortion rights âuntil now.â
During Tuesdayâs appearance on MSNBCâs âAndrea Mitchell Reports,â the host asked Pelosi, âWhy did the president wait until now to make this major push for what he says will be a post-election call for a fast track on Abortion rights nationwide?â
Mitchell suggested Biden could have done more last Fall amid a leaked draft opinion showing the U.S. Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade.
âThe president has been a very strong supporter of a womanâs right to choose. In your preview, you said, why is he waiting until after the election instead of doing it now? We donât have 60 votes in the Senate,â Pelosi replied.
Mitchell then asked, âYou donât think he could have pushed harder in the Senate?â
Pelosi pushed back, âYou think we would have gotten 10 Republican votes? You think we would have gotten 10 Republican votes? Oh, come on.â
She continued, âWith all due respect, the fact is we need to get two more Democratic votes to push back the filibuster and, therefore, be able with 51 votes to enshrine Roe v. Wade into the law.â
Watch Pelosiâs comments below:
During a Democratic National Committee event on Tuesday, Biden vowed if Democrats hold onto control of the House in the midterm elections he would make Abortion a priority.
âThe court got Roe right nearly 50 years ago and I believe the Congress should codify Roe, once and for all,â Biden said.
The president explained if Americans elect more Democrats, âhereâs the promise I make to you and the American people: The first bill I will send to the Congress will be to codify Roe v. Wade. And when Congress passes it, Iâll sign it in January, 50 years after Roe was first decided the law of the land.â
A Kaiser Family Foundation survey published on Oct. 12 found 50% of registered voters are motivated to vote by the Supreme Courtâs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Additionally, NPR noted Vice President Kamala Harris has held more than 20 events revolving around reproductive rights since the courtâs decision.
