UPDATE: Senate Rejects Protecting Birth Control

USA Today reports:

The Right to Contraception Act, introduced by Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., seeks to codify people’s right to use and protect health care providers’ right to distribute contraceptives. The forced vote will require representatives in the chamber take a clear side on an issue known to mobilize to voters nationwide ahead of the November election.

Two years after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, some Democrats appear hopeful it will serve as a reminder of Republican’s restrictive positions on abortion and convince voters the GOP could take things further if they lose their narrow control of the Senate this fall.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., released a statement Wednesday with 21 other Republican senators slamming the bill as “stunt legislation.”

Read the full article.

UPDATE: As you can see, the vote went as expected. Schumer changed his vote to “no” at the last minute in order to be able bring the bill back in the future.

Senate unable to advance Democrats’ contraception access bill, following a 51-39 vote, amid pretty broad Republican opposition.

GOP Sens. Collins and Murkowski were only Rs who voted to move the bill toward final passage.

— Jennifer Shutt (@JenniferShutt) June 5, 2024

I’m heading to the Senate floor today to urge my Republican colleagues to protect and expand access to contraception by supporting the Right to Contraception Act.

Women across this country deserve the freedom to make their own choices about their own bodies.

— Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (@SenatorShaheen) June 5, 2024

Democrats’ fearmongering & lies on contraception are nothing more than a means to infringe on Americans’ parental & religious rights.

There is no threat to access to contraception. Today, I led Senate Republicans in exposing the truth ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/pkmA2Ydzzh

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) June 4, 2024