A note about reproductive health legislation failing in the Senate.

 

Friend —

On Monday, Senate Republicans blocked a vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act, legislation that, if passed, would have codified Roe v. Wade at the federal level.

Let’s be clear: abortion is healthcare, and the right to an abortion is under attack.

In recent months, we’ve seen Republican legislators in states like Texas and Georgia pass restrictive legislation making it very difficult to access abortion services. And the conservative-majority Supreme Court is likely to formally overturn Roe v. Wade in the coming months. Of course, people of color and economically disadvantaged individuals will be disproportionately hurt by these dangerous policies.

This is a dire situation, and Democrats must act quickly and decisively to protect access to abortion services on a federal level.

That starts with abolishing the filibuster so that the Women’s Health Protection Act can get a fair vote in the Senate, and expanding the Supreme Court to restore ideological balance.

Reproductive healthcare is an issue that’s personally important to me. I challenged former State Senator Jeff Klein in 2018 because I was frustrated by his and the IDC’s attempts to block the passage of progressive legislation, including legislation codifying the right to a legal abortion. 

In 2019, after the IDC was brought down, I joined other Democrats in the New York legislature to finally pass a bill codifying the right to an abortion. But abortion being legal doesn’t mean it’s accessible to all, so I introduced legislation that would allow New Yorkers to make a gift to a statewide abortion fund via their tax forms.

Now, it’s time for Democrats in Congress to follow our state’s lead by doing everything in their power to pass legislation legalizing abortion.

For too long, members of our party have prioritized playing it safe over actually getting things done for everyday Americans — while Republicans have shown over and over again that they’ll do anything to get their agenda passed.

I won’t rest until we abolish the filibuster, expand the Supreme Court, and make abortion legal, safe, and accessible for all.

– Alessandra

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We are trying to understand this message from current State Senator Biaggi. First she states it is the fault of Republicans in the U.S. Senate. She then gives herself a pat on the back for defeating former State Senator (and IDC leader) Jeff Klein while saying that she joined with other Democrats in the state senate to pass a bill that rearranged existing law for the right to an abortion. Then she says that Democrat in Congress need to follow New York State's lead to pass legislation legalizing abortion. 

Senator Biaggi's last sentence say it all however when she say she wants to expand the Supreme Court, a system that was in place since September 24, 1789, and has had nine judges with the exception of  the years 1865  - 1869 when there were only seven judges on the Supreme Court after President Lincoln was assassinated. We also wonder id congressional candidate Biaggi understands what State's Rights are?