NonilexJun 20, 2024

#Democrats seek to repeal #Comstock #abortion rule, fearing #Trump crackdown

Democrats are seeking to overhaul an 1873 federal #law that #bans abortion-related materials from being sent through the mail, worried that a future Trump admin could invoke the #ComstockAct to crack down on #AbortionAccess or effectively #ban the procedure altogether.

#MAGA #Republicans #extremism #Christian #evangelism #Congress #legislation #TrumpProofing
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/06/20/comstock-abortion-repeal-tina-smith-senate/

Democrats seek to repeal Comstock abortion rule, fearing Trump crackdown

The Comstock Act, an 1873 law that bans abortion-related materials from being sent through the mail, could be used by the GOP to restrict abortion nationwide.

The Washington Post
Show threadNonilex

“There is a very clear, well-organized plan afoot by the #MAGA #Republicans to use #Comstock as a tool to #ban #MedicationAbortion, & potentially all #abortions,” said Sen #TinaSmith (MN), who on Thurs plans to introduce legislation to repeal the #ComstockAct’s #abortion provisions. “My job is to take that tool away.”

#ReproductiveRights #law #Congress #legislation #WomensHealth #health #extremism #Christian #evangelism #MaleSupremacy #TrumpProofing

Jun 20, 2024 at 3:19pmWeb
Show threadNonilexJun 20, 2024

#Democrats’ push to defang the 151-yr-old #law comes <5 months before a presidential #election in which #ReproductiveRights appear destined to play a defining role. But the party’s mixed reaction to the plan underscores the balancing act between #policy aspirations & #political realities.

Sens #ElizabethWarren (MA), #CatherineCortezMasto (NV) & other #Democrats have signed on to the legislation, acc/to Smith’s office.

#MAGA #Republicans #Congress #legislation #WomensHealth #health #extremism

Show threadNonilexJun 20, 2024

Rep #BeccaBalint (VT) will introduce companion #legislation in the House, &…she said she believed #House Democratic leaders support the effort.

“I’m not going to take a watch-&-see, laissez-faire attitude,” Balint said. “We can & we have to take #Republicans at their word that they want a #FederalBan.”

The campaign has support from… #PlannedParenthood, the #ACLU & #ReproductiveFreedomForAll. The legislation…would preserve aspects of the #law that allow ofcls to crack down on child pornography.

Show threadNonilexJun 20, 2024

Not all #Democrats agree that attempting to repeal the #Comstock Act’s #abortion provisions should be an election-year priority, worried it will distract from the party’s existing efforts to protect #AbortionAccess & to focus voters’ attention on #ReproductiveHealth issues. While Pres #Biden has heavily campaigned on #Republicans’ efforts to limit #abortion, he has not endorsed repealing Comstock & has avoided focusing on the #law.

#MAGA #Republicans #ReproductiveRights #Congress #WomensHealth

Show threadSylvie does booksJun 20, 2024
@Nonilex what remains shocking is just how long elements of that awful act are still in place, as well as how long it took for any easements to be in place.