President Joe Biden is throwing his support behind a move that has already failed in the Senate this year and could cost Democrats in future elections.
During a press conference on Thursday, Biden said, “I believe we have to codify Roe v. Wade into law. And the way to do that is to make sure the Congress votes to do that.”
“And if the filibuster gets in the way, it’s like voting rights. It should be we provide an exception for the filibuster for this action,” he added.
The president later added he believes Congress should pass legislation codifying a right to privacy.
Watch the video below:
President Biden just called for a carveout exception to the Senate filibuster to codify Roe v. Wade into law.
— The Recount (@therecount) June 30, 2022
Biden, on follow-up, said "right to privacy, not just abortion rights." pic.twitter.com/OFT8DMDf6H
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) reacted to Biden’s comments, tweeting, “Now we’re talking! Time for people to see a real, forceful push for it. Use the bully pulpit. We need more.”
Now we’re talking! Time for people to see a real, forceful push for it. Use the bully pulpit. We need more. https://t.co/dZ1qhdu8iM
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 30, 2022
Earlier this year, Biden pushed the Senate to change the filibuster so that it could pass voting rights legislation. However, it failed as Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) voted against the move.
Biden’s comments come as the clock is ticking ahead of the November midterm election.
With Republicans apparently poised to take over the House and possibly the Senate, it seems that if Democrats actually want to change the filibuster and get anything passed, they would have to do it before the election.
And if the Senate votes to create a carve-out for the filibuster with just months to go before voters head to the polls, it would force Democrats to sign their name to an explosive move — to allow them to counter what many pro-life advocates argue is their greatest victory in 50 years — which would likely gin up Republican anger and enthusiasm in red states and even purple states.
Meanwhile, it might depress Democratic energy if voters concerned about Roe v. Wade being overturned feel that Biden and the Democrats solved the problem.
Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), who are both up for reelection in states that were not too long ago very reliably red, could probably kiss their seats goodbye.
Even if Democrats don’t move on changing the filibuster before the election, Biden’s comments just gave Republicans great content for campaign ads.
The argument would go something like this: First, Biden was against changing the filibuster. Then he called for changing it for voting rights, and now for abortion, because he can’t get his way. They’re telling us what they’ll do if Democrats hold onto the Senate. They’ll just change the filibuster rules for whatever they feel like and ram through their radical agenda.
And there could be some merit to that argument.
Ocasio-Cortez argued on Thursday that the Senate should reform or eliminate the filibuster altogether to pave the way for new environmental laws.
Once you start changing the rules for one issue, it’s hard to stop, and if Ocasio-Cortez is any indication, the progressives won’t be happy as long as the filibuster is in the way of their agenda.
