Biden Leads Democratic Push to Block New Abortion Restrictions After Shifting Stance in Campaign
November 28, 2021 | Mississippi, Texas
As the Supreme Court prepares to consider a big test to abortion rights, President Biden is leading Democratic efforts to block new restrictions on the procedure, following a campaign shift toward the views of a liberal Democratic Party.
The court will hear arguments on Dec. 1 over a Mississippi law that seeks to ban most abortions after 15 weeks, giving the justices an opening to revisit the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and later rulings that upheld a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion before fetal viability. Mr. Biden’s administration is challenging a Texas law that effectively bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
Mr. Biden, a practicing Catholic, described his position on abortion as “middle of the road” in the past. But he has sought to stay in step with a Democratic Party that has rejected policies that would limit access to abortion and turned away from candidates with reservations on the issue. That has presented challenges, such as criticism from U.S. Catholic bishops, and risks limiting his appeal to some voters…. (Excerpts from The Wall Street Journal)
