President Joe Biden's comments that the U.S. Senate end the filibuster to push through federally protected abortion rights following the Supreme Court's decision to strike them down hasn't met with much firm support.
During a June 30 news briefing in Madrid, Spain, Biden said he would be conferring with state governors about what steps they and he should be taking, according to a transcript of his remarks. He expressed a wish to pass laws making abortion a right in all 50 U.S. states.
"I believe we have to codify Roe v. Wade into law," Biden said, according to the transcript. "And the way to do that is to make sure that Congress votes to do that. And if the filibuster gets in the way - its like voting rights - it should be we provide an exception to the filibuster for this action to deal with the Supreme Court decision."
To overcome the filibuster, the Senate must overcome a 60-vote threshold to advance the legislation, according to a June 30 Washington Examiner report. It was reported reaching this number may be difficult since the majority of the Republicans and Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., and Krysten Sinema, D-Ariz., confirmed they would not vote to end the filibuster.
Washington Examiner reported the legislation fell 11 votes short when introduced earlier in the year, with all the Republicans and Manchin opposing.
A spokesperson for Manchin and an aide to Sinema reported neither have changed their positions on ending the filibuster, according to a June 30 Reuters article.
U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., used stern language shortly after Biden's comments.
"Attacking a core American institution like the Supreme Court from the world stage is below the dignity of the President," McConnell said in a statement posted June 30. "Beyond that, President Biden's attacks on the court are unmerited and dangerous. He's upset that the court said the people, through their elected representatives, will have a say on abortion policy. That does not destabilize democracy – it affirms it. By contrast, it is behavior like the President's that undermines equal justice and the rule of law."
