US President Joe Biden said that if the Democrats won the seats, the first piece of legislation he would send to Congress would be to enact a nationwide right to abortion. , photo credit: Reuters
President Joe Biden said Monday that Democrats still lack the power to codify abortion rights into law, despite his party’s stronger-than-expected showing in the midterm elections.
“I don’t think there are enough votes,” he said during the press conference group of 20 summit in indonesia,
Mr Biden’s scathing comments show how Democrats’ euphoria over their midterm strength will soon collide with the likely reality of a divided government in Washington.
During the campaign, Mr Biden said that if Democrats picked up seats, the first law he would send to Congress would be to create a nationwide right to abortion.
The right was previously only guaranteed by the US Supreme Court in its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, and the court’s conservative majority reversed that decision earlier this year.
Democrats defy historic barriers
Asked what voters can expect on the issue, Mr. Biden replied, “I don’t think they can expect much of anything.”
While ballots are still being counted, Republicans are on track to control the House of Representatives by a narrow margin, putting them in a position to block any abortion legislation.
“I think it’s going to be very close, but I don’t think we’re going to make it,” Mr. Biden said.
Democrats will retain control of the Senate, and could even expand their majority after next month’s runoff in Georgia. But some party members are unwilling to circumvent filibuster rules to pass an abortion law.
Mr Biden previously said “we need two more senators” to codify abortion rights, in a reference to Sens. Kirsten Kinney of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who want to preserve the filibuster.
If Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia wins a second term next month, Democrats would gain only one seat.