House Dems Move to Force Birth Control Vote

House Democrats, in an attempt to push abortion rights to the forefront of election issues, are trying to force a vote on legislation that would codify the right to birth control access across the country.

The Dems plan to use a procedural motion known as a discharge petition to try and force a vote on the issue. The move, expected to be announced Tuesday, is likely to fail in the GOP-led House.

“Extremist Republican politicians are waging war on women’s reproductive health,” lead sponsor Rep. Kathy Manning, D-N.C., said, The New York Times reported.

“They’ve stripped women of their constitutional right to obtain an abortion, attacked fertility treatments, and are now attempting to restrict access to birth control.”

News of House Dems’ planned maneuver comes nearly two weeks after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he plans to hold a vote on a bill to establish federal protections for legal contraceptives, NBC News reported.

The vote, which the Times said will occur this week, is designed to force Republicans to take a side on the issue as the November election approaches.

Democrats want to achieve the same result in the House.

“All those freshman Republicans in New York and California that cost us the House majority in 2022 will have to answer a question of why are they not signing it,” Democrat strategist Chris Fleming said, The Times reported.

The discharge petition is a way to force a bill out of committee. Republicans hold a 218-13 advantage, and only a few defectors are needed to sign a petition to meet the threshold of a simple majority. Democrats must wait seven workdays before they can start collecting signatures for the petition.

“The choice to use birth control should be yours and yours alone,” Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., said, The Times reported.

“House Republicans have a choice to make: either sign this discharge petition or put their anti-freedom extremism in full view of the American people.”

Democrats point to Republicans, including pro-life policies, into pending legislation.

On Monday, it was reported that President Joe Biden is expected to veto a proposal that would fund the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2025 as well as military construction projects because the bill includes “harming access to reproductive healthcare,” according to the White House Office of Management and Budget.