IVF Bill Fails in Senate

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Facts

  • A bill that would guarantee federal protections and insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments failed to secure the 60 votes necessary to be brought up for debate on Tuesday.[1]
  • The measure fell nine votes short of advancing, as Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine) were the only Republicans to join Democrats in voting for the bill — the second time in three months the bill has been blocked.[1]
  • The bill follows an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that embryos used in IVF should be considered children.[2]
  • Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) revived the bill weeks after former Pres. Donald Trump, this year's Republican presidential nominee, expressed his support for IVF by telling a crowd in Michigan the 'government will pay for — or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for' all IVF treatment costs.[3]
  • Meanwhile, Republican Sens. Katie Britt (Alabama) and Ted Cruz (Texas) attempted to pass a bill making access to IVF a condition for states to receive Medicaid funds. It was blocked by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who said the bill doesn't go far enough.[4]

Sources: [1]New York Times, [2]Reuters.com, [3]FOX News and [4]CBS.

Narratives

  • Democratic narrative, as provided by Mother Jones. Trump and the Republicans have done nothing but lie about their support for IVF, and this vote is just the latest evidence of their dishonesty. In fact, Republicans have done more to deter access to IVF, starting with Trump's nomination of the three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade — throwing women's reproductive rights into peril.
  • Republican narrative, as provided by The Center Square. Democrats were deceitful in bringing this bill up for a vote again. The vagueness of this measure opens the door to the federalization of abortion protections. It also protects the genetic engineering of embryos and commercialized surrogacy, morally questionable practices completely unrelated to IVF. Republicans couldn't vote for it despite their support for IVF.
  • Conservative narrative, as provided by Federalist. Republicans must stop following Democrats down the road toward supporting unethical and immoral practices that could emerge from the slippery slope of protecting IVF access. In order to halt the Democrats' radical agenda, Republicans must put protecting preborn life and families first.

Predictions