Here is some big news today out of Pennsylvania:
Pennsylvania Senator Robert P. Casey Jr., today announced his support for the Women’s Health Protection Act, stating not only will he vote yes to advance debate but also to support a vote on final passage of the bill.
“This week, I will again vote yes to advance debate on the Women’s Health Protection Act and I will support the bill if there is a vote on final passage in the future.
“In the nearly three months since the Senate last voted on the Women’s Health Protection Act, the circumstances around the entire debate on abortion have changed. In light of the leaked Supreme Court decision draft overturning Roe v. Wade, and subsequent reports that Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate will introduce legislation to enact a nationwide six-week ban, the real question of the moment is: do you support a categorical ban on abortion? During my time in public office, I have never voted for—nor do I support—such a ban.”
Casey, who refers to himself as a pro-life Democrat, has a record on abortion rights issues that is difficult to put a label upon. The son of former Pennsylvania governor Robert P. Casey, who fought against Planned Parenthood in the 1992 Supreme Court decision Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, has consistently opposed Roe v. Wade while voting in support of other abortion rights issues.
This is significant and here’s some more info:
Asked whether his own personal beliefs had changed, Casey said it was “really just about a bill.”
“I do think that when an issue is of such concern to folks all across the country, especially women and their families, you should make it clear how you’re going to vote on a bill even though we’re not at … the final passage,” he said.
Casey added that the labels that have described this debate for a long time — such as “pro-life” or “pro-choice” — seem to have changed.
“I think it’s come down now to [abortion] ban or no ban,” Casey said. “I think that’s the way it’s going to be going forward. And this bill is a direct pushback against an abortion ban, and I support it.”
Senator Casey is one of two pro-life Democratic Senators left in the U.S. Senate. The other being U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D. WV). While the vote may not garner the 60 votes needed, I applaud Senator Casey for doing the right thing. Senator Manchin and pro-choice Republican Senators like Susan Collins (R. ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R. AK) should do the same thing:
As the Senate prepares to hold a vote on codifying safeguards of Roe v. Wade on Wednesday, some senators have shared their thoughts a couple days early, including two key swing voters, Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
After Politico published a leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court stating the majority is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade's 1973 decision that made abortion legal throughout the nation, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the caucus will hold a vote to codify a woman's right to an abortion in federal law with the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA).
Murkowski said she will be voting "no," according to reports.
Other lawmakers have been more reserved about their stance. Manchin told NBC he was "undecided" on Wednesday's vote. Manchin is a key swing vote and he said he'll "wait and see" what Democrats say in their weekly lunches Tuesday before deciding.
We need more Democratic Senators in order to change or abolish the filibuster in order to pass the Women's Health Protection Act. We can do that this year by helping Lt. Governor John Fetterman (D. PA) win his primary and election and help Attorney General Josh Shapiro (D. PA) become governor to protect abortion rights in Pennsylvania. Leading in the polls in the Democratic Primary, Fetterman is already focusing on the general election:
In speaking to the crowd, Fetterman seemed to recognize his command over the primary field. “If we do win the primary—and things look good—then we will carry your flag with us into the general election,” he said.
And in recent weeks, he’s generally strayed away from name-checking his fellow contenders in the Democratic primary, instead training his fire at potential Republican opponents.
In the first two Democratic debates, he didn’t shy away from taking hits at Dave McCormick, the hedge-fund multimillionaire who’s considered a leading contender for the Republican nomination.
Over the past month, he’s started notably name-checking McCormick and celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz on social media, particularly following Trump’s endorsement of Oz for the seat. His campaign has been running Facebook ads against Oz and McCormick, asking for small-dollar donations. At his Lebanon County stop—and at a stop in another red area, Wilkes-Barre Township, later in the day—he repeated the same joke: “I never thought I would be able to run in the statewide race for Senate and be able to brag, ‘I live in Pennsylvania.’”
Both McCormick and Oz have faced backlash for moving to the state shortly before announcing their bids for the seat.
FYI:
By the way, here’s the latest on the GOP primary side:
Here’s what might explain why Barnette is on the rise:
Barnette has used forums and debates to talk about her striking biography: She has described herself as a “product of a rape,” whose mother was only 11 years old when she was conceived. As a child, she lived on a pig farm without insulation. She went on to become a veteran, adjunct professor of corporate finance, and author of “Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain: Being Black and Conservative in America.”
“I think it’s real. I’ve had grassroots political people tell me for a while that when there’s candidate forums, she’s the one who has the most enthusiasm. And what was said about her was, ‘Boy, I really like her, but she can’t win,’” said Chris Mottola, a GOP consultant and Pennsylvania native who is not involved in the race. “With Oz and McCormick just savaging each other, they wind up with high negatives. All of a sudden, you’re like, ‘Well, why not vote for her? I do really like her.’”
GOP consultants said another factor that helps explain her bump in the polls is her link to state Sen. Doug Mastriano, the frontrunner in the state’s GOP primary for governor. Mastriano and Barnette have endorsed each other and campaigned alongside each other.
Mastriano worked to overturn the 2020 presidential election and recently appeared at an event that promoted Q-Anon propaganda. He also went to the Capitol on Jan. 6, and has been subpoenaed by the congressional committee investigating the insurrection. He has said he left before the riot.
And McCormick’s decline:
Trump, at a rally for celebrity physician Mehmet Oz near Pittsburgh, lit into McCormick on Friday night as the candidate of “special interests and globalists and the Washington establishment” and said he doesn’t share the ex-president’s “Make America Great Again” agenda.
McCormick pushed back, saying Trump made his critical comments after seeing a small crowd with day-long rain and after there were boos when Oz’s name was mentioned.
“The president’s at a position where he’s doubling down on trying to help his endorsed candidate be successful, and I’m doubling down on making my case to the people of Pennsylvania,” McCormick said in an interview Saturday after an event with veterans at a diner outside Pittsburgh. “In the end, I think I’ll prevail, and I think that people will bet on somebody who’s got my background.”
Trump’s endorsement of Oz over McCormick is his most consequential nod of the 2022 midterms. McCormick’s campaign said it’ll air an ad starting next week that labels Trump’s endorsement a mistake. The ad was first reported by Axios.
Primary Day is May 17th. Click here to find out where to drop off your ballot or vote in person.
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