Battle of the Sexes: GOP Divided on Anti-Abortion Bill

     This week marked the forty-second anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that established a woman’s right to choose. The ruling made it so states could not ban or regulate abortions performed during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. The decision was later changed in 1992 when the Supreme Court broadened a state’s authority to regulate the procedure in Casey v. Planned Parenthood. 

     Because of Casey, the GOP was able to pass an anti-abortion bill yesterday banning the use of health insurance or federal funds to help pay for the procedure.

     While this is a setback for women at the moment, it may end up being a good thing in the long run. Thanks to the party’s female representatives, Republicans were divided on the issue for the first time. Women in the House were so heated on the topic that they got the original bill tabled and replaced when language regarding victims of rape was not changed. The original bill would have banned abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

     Until now, Republicans have been pretty unified on abortion as an issue but now that times are changing and more women are involved in politics, the fight for women’s rights is gaining traction.

     Want to learn more about the issue? Jesse talks abortion in the video below. Check it out and let us know what you think. 

-By Brigida S., The Off the Grid Team