Senate blocks Tommy Tuberville decision to repeal VA abortion coverage

A decision launched by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) to overturn a Division of Veterans Affairs abortion coverage failed within the Senate on Wednesday.

In a 48-51 vote, the Democratic-controlled Senate opted to not block the VA from performing abortions. The VA had introduced in September it could permit abortion counseling and abortions in circumstances of rape, incest, or hurt to a mom's life. This was the primary time in VA historical past that abortions can be allowed, and it got here three months after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

MANCHIN JOINS REPUBLICANS IN OPPOSITION TO VA ABORTION POLICY

The vote marked a setback for Tuberville, who has been waging a combat with the Pentagon's high brass over a separate coverage by the Protection Division that pays for the journey bills and day off associated to a service member's abortion. The senator mentioned that coverage was a violation of the Hyde Modification, and he has been blocking the promotions of some 180 common and flag officers in protest.

Tuberville initially launched the measure to reverse the VA's abortion coverage, a privileged decision that was assured a Senate vote, on Feb. 8. The laws was co-sponsored by 34 Republicans, with one Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), becoming a member of the GOP lawmakers.

The Alabama Republican denounced the coverage as "unlawful" forward of the Wednesday vote.

"We’re going to vote to overturn it as a result of it's unlawful, it's mistaken, and it abuses taxpayer dollars," Tuberville mentioned.

Manchin mentioned tax dollars mustn't go towards paying for abortions and pressed President Joe Biden to deliver laws earlier than Congress as a substitute. "If this must be modified, it ought to be voted upon. If the laws that the president desires to do and this administration, then deliver it earlier than in a bit of laws, and let's undergo the method."

The White Home stood behind the coverage and threatened to veto the measure forward of the Wednesday vote.

Within the wake of the measure's failure, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) excoriated Republican makes an attempt to dam the VA's abortion coverage.

"In the present day, Senate Republicans voted to disclaim girls veterans entry to abortion care — telling People in every single place that the Republican social gathering desires to power girls veterans to remain pregnant — even when their life is in danger, even in circumstances of rape or incest," Murray, who additionally sits on the Veterans’ Affairs committee, tweeted . "That's heinous."