Casey of P. says she will vote for the abortion rights bill

(* This story was updated at 1pm on Tuesday, 5/10/22 to properly reflect that the Senate is voting on a bill authored by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.)

A senior Pennsylvania senator says he is voting for a bill to protect abortion rights, giving Democrats important support in a narrowly divided chamber ahead of Wednesday’s planned vote on legislation.

In a statement, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat in Scranton who opposes abortion but voted in favor of family planning and satellite issues, said he would vote in favor of the debate on the bill and will vote in favor of the final bill. into the cell when and when the time comes.

“This week, I will vote in favor again to promote the debate on the Women’s Health Act, and I will support the bill if there is a vote on final adoption in the future,” Casey said. Camera set to pass a law authored by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

“In the nearly three months since the Senate last voted on the Women’s Health Act, circumstances around the entire abortion debate have changed,” Casey continued. “In the light leaked draft Supreme Court decision repealing Rowe v. Wade, as well as subsequent reports that Republicans in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate will introduce a law to impose a nationwide six-week ban, the real question at the moment is: do you strongly support an abortion ban? During my tenure in public office, I have never voted for such a ban and I do not support it. “

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, DN.Y., announced last week that he planned to force to vote on the bill on the codification of protection against abortion, previously reported “Capital Star”.

The U.S. Senate will try the right to abortion again after announcing the draft opinion

Despite Casey’s announced support, Democrats are still facing a tough battle in Hall 50-50. They still lack the 60 votes needed to pass legislation.

However, Sumer of New York and other Democrats said they wanted to put every member of the House on the agenda after leak to Politico a draft Supreme Court ruling showing that judges at least initially voted to dismiss the Rowe abortion rights case against Wade. The decision is not final and can be changed.

“We will have a vote next week,” Sumer said. “We’ll see where everyone stands … Once we get this vote, we’ll figure out how best to go from there.”

Senate rejected a similar bill in February. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, DW.Va., joined all Republicans present to win the procedural vote, 46-48. Casey voted to promote the debate on this bill, according to an official Senate roll call.

Capital-Star reporter Marley Parish contributed to this story.