President Joe Biden spoke at a news conference in Madrid on Thursday. (Susan Walsh / AP)
President Biden said Thursday that he supports an exception to the 60-vote threshold needed to improve Senate legislation on codifying abortion and privacy rights following a Supreme Court ruling overturning the remarkable Rowe v. Wade.
“I believe we need to codify Rowe against Wade in law. And the way to do that is to make sure Congress votes on it. And if the filibuster interferes, it’s like the right to vote should be, we provide an exception to that. The exception is the necessary exception of the filibuster for this action to deal with the decision of the Supreme Court, “Biden told reporters at a press conference in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday.
Pressed moments later to clarify that he was ready to change the rules of the filibuster on these issues, Biden said: “Right to confidentiality, not only abortion rights, but yes, abortion rights.”
Rowe’s codification against Wade requires 60 votes in the Senate, which is currently lacking, unless the rules of the filibuster are changed to require a simple majority. Major Moderate Democrats Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kirsten Cinema of Arizona have opposed opposition to changing the rules of the filibuster. However, Manchin is open to codifying Roe against Wade in law.
Biden also said he would meet with governors on Friday to get their feedback and have “announcements to make then.”
“The first and foremost thing we need to do is clarify how scandalous this decision was and how much it affects not only a woman’s right to choose, which is a critical, critical part, but also confidentiality in general, confidentiality. generally. So, I’m going to talk to the governors about what action they think they need to take. But the most important thing that needs to be clear: we need to change, I believe we need to codify Rowe against Wade in law, “he said.
Additional context: There are no indications that the two senators, Manchin and Cinema, have changed or will change their positions.
But Biden’s call coincides with the White House’s efforts to increase urgency before the midterm elections – and comes as national Democrats increasingly fear that the Biden administration is not doing enough to cope – and fight – with the decision. The Supreme Court.
Despite the small number of polls and the poor prospects for retaining the Democratic majority in the House, the White House sees a way to win seats in the Senate to increase its small majority.
Retaining their current seats and adding at least two new Democratic senators could, in theory, pave the way for securing votes to change Senate rules.
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