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| US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) |
In her letter, Pelosi writes,
"While this extremist Supreme Court works to punish and control the American people, Democrats must continue our fight to expand freedom in America. Doing so is foundational to our oath of office and our fidelity to the Constitution.It is clear from how Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell stacked the Supreme Court that elections have ramifications. It is essential that we protect and expand our pro-choice Majorities in the House and Senate in November so that we can eliminate the filibuster so that we can restore women’s fundamental rights – and freedom for every American."
The filibuster prevents legislation in the US Senate from moving to a vote unless 60 Senators approve. Pelosi is hoping that her party might gain a strong enough majority in the Senate to end the filibuster, thereby allowing pro-abortion politicians to pass legislation such as the WHPA with fewer votes. This would have the side-effect of allowing future pro-life majorities to pass legislation more easily as well.
The WHPA has already failed to bypass Senate filibusters twice. This legislation would create a federal right to abortion and prevent states from enforcing a variety of pro-life laws. The restrictions it would place on states are even more strict than those placed by Roe v. Wade.
