Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Sunday criticized Republican leaders after Senate Republicans blocked a contraception bill last week, even as South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said GOP lawmakers support access to contraception.
“We’re in great danger right now if the U.S. Senate puts forward a policy that would guarantee access to birth control and Republicans vote against it and kill the bill,” Gov. Whitmer told CNN on Sunday morning.
The “Contraception Rights Bill” introduced by Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts aims to enshrine people’s right to use contraception and protect the right of health care providers to distribute contraception. The bill needed 60 votes to pass, but it failed by a vote of 51 to 39, with Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joining the Democrats in voting in favor.
Appearing on CNN before Governor Whitmer, Noem was asked about the rejected bill and said that birth control “absolutely” should be available.
Governor Whitmer called the responses from Republican lawmakers like Noem “disingenuous at best and outright lies at worst.”
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“We all know the truth here,” Gov. Whitmer told CNN.
The Michigan governor, who serves as a surrogate for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, pointed to the Supreme Court justices appointed by former President Donald Trump, three of whom played key roles two years ago in overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion.
“We know that in many states, women lack access to basic health care,” Whitmer continued, noting that not only abortion but other reproductive decisions are at issue, she said, including IVF and, “now,” birth control.
Noem said early Sunday that she isn’t opposed to access to contraception, but that the Senate Democrats’ bill is “far-reaching.”
“I think the bill is a joke,” she said.
Several Republican senators sharply criticized the bill, calling it unnecessary.
“Contraception is legal in every state and required by law to be provided free by health insurance companies, and access to it cannot be threatened. We’re tired of Democrats stoking fear around this important issue to score easy political points,” a group of 21 Republican senators led by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said in a joint statement Wednesday.
Republicans in Congress have also introduced their own bills on contraception to counter Democrats’ claims that Republicans are trying to take away access to contraception.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has introduced a bill that she says differs from Democrats in eliminating access to Plan B. Emergency contraception is used to end a pregnancy and is a different drug than an abortion pill.
“We’re going to have an alternative that makes it very clear that Republicans are for contraception,” Senate Republican Leader John Thune said, CNN reported.
Contributors: Rachel Barber, USA TODAY and Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY
