U.S. Senator Susan Collins, who claims to be an ardent supporter of the right to abortion, will be a “no” vote next week when Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer forces a vote on legislation to codify Roe v. Wade into law.
The Maine Republican voted to confirm right-wing Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Chief Justice John Roberts, and the justice who is authoring the majority opinion that will strike down Roe v. Wade, Samuel Alito. All are expected to vote to end the constitutional right to abortion.
Ahead of next week’s critical vote, Collins has already signaled she will not support the more than 70 million women in this country considered to be of “reproductive age.”
Why?
Catholic hospitals.
Senator Collins “says she has concerns about the Dems bill to codify Roe v Wade,” reports Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman. “She said it doesn’t include ‘conscience’ provisions that would allow catholic [sic] hospitals to refuse to perform abortions.”
In February Sen. Collins and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced legislation to do exactly what the Democratic bill would do: codify Roe v. Wade into law.
“I support the abortion rights established by Roe v. Wade and affirmed by Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Our legislation would enshrine these important protections into law without undercutting statutes that have been in place for decades and provide basic conscience protections that are relied upon by health care providers who have religious objections to performing abortions,” Collins said in a press release.
Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance, an NBC News/MSNBC legal analyst, expressed anger over the news.
The bill would require 60 votes to avoid a filibuster by Republicans. Currently, Democratic Senators Joe Manchin (WV), Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), and Bob Casey (PA) are also considered to be opposed to the legislation.