search
Sections List
American Journal News

GOP senators are pretending Trump's Supreme Court pick isn't a threat to health care

Amy Coney Barrett is against abortion rights and criticized the decision upholding the Affordable Care Act. But Senate Republicans are lying about her stances as they rush to confirm her.

By Emily Singer - September 29, 2020
Share
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA)

A trio of vulnerable Senate Republicans are lying to voters about the risk to abortion rights and the Affordable Care Act if Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed to the Supreme Court.

If Coney Barrett is confirmed, her anti-abortion stance as well as her view that the Supreme Court wrongly decided that the ACA was constitutional back in 2012 put the right to an abortion as well as protections for preexisting conditions at risk.

But in a series of debates and tweets, GOP lawmakers downplayed her positions on critical policies.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) said in a debate against her Democratic opponent, Theresa Greenfield, that the right to an abortion is not at risk if Coney Barrett is confirmed.

“I think the likelihood of Roe v. Wade being overturned is very minimal,” Ernst said, referring to the landmark case that said the Constitution grants the right to an abortion. “I don’t see that happening.”

However, Coney Barrett is against abortion rights. And Donald Trump said he would only appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade.

Meanwhile, Ernst is one of 200 GOP lawmakers who urged SCOTUS to overturn the landmark abortion case, citing the “unworkability” of the “right to abortion.”

In a Montana Senate debate Monday night, Republican Sen. Steve Daines said Coney Barrett won’t overturn the ACA — better known as Obamacare — even though she criticized the initial 2012 SCOTUS ruling deeming the ACA constitutional.

“The experts are saying it’s highly unlikely they’ll overturn the ACA. That’s the consensus of many legal experts,” said Daines, who supports the GOP lawsuit to nix the ACA.

And John Cornyn of Texas tweeted that Democrats are fear-mongering about the future of the ACA if Coney Barrett is confirmed, even though her stance against the law does put the law at risk.

The GOP senators are running away from Coney Barrett’s views as polls show her positions are unpopular.

A New York Times/Siena College poll released on Sunday found 60% of Americans support the right to an abortion in either all or some cases, and 57% support the ACA.

Even more, the poll found 56% of voters say that the winner of the election should get to appoint the next justice, which Senate Republicans are ignoring to push Coney Barrett through days before the election results are known.

Democrats, for their part, are running ads about how Coney Barrett puts Obamacare at risk as Democrats try to win back control of the Senate.

Democrats need to net three seats to win control of the chamber if Democratic nominee Joe Biden wins the White House, or four seats if Donald Trump wins reelection.

Currently, FiveThirtyEight says Democrats are slight favorites to win control of the Senate.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


Read More
AJ News
Latest
Florida abortion ban puts GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s anti-choice views in spotlight

Florida abortion ban puts GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s anti-choice views in spotlight

By Jesse Valentine - May 07, 2024
Trump leaves door open to banning medication abortion nationwide

Trump leaves door open to banning medication abortion nationwide

By Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom - April 30, 2024
Republican Caroleene Dobson wants Alabama abortion ban to go nationwide

Republican Caroleene Dobson wants Alabama abortion ban to go nationwide

By Jesse Valentine - April 30, 2024
Ohio Gov. DeWine said he didn’t know of millions in FirstEnergy support. Is it plausible?

Ohio Gov. DeWine said he didn’t know of millions in FirstEnergy support. Is it plausible?

By Marty Schladen, Ohio Capital Journal - April 29, 2024
GOP Rep. Zach Nunn suggests laws against hate crime aren’t needed

GOP Rep. Zach Nunn suggests laws against hate crime aren’t needed

By Jesse Valentine - April 15, 2024
GOP Senate candidate Hung Cao blames racial equity for Baltimore bridge tragedy

GOP Senate candidate Hung Cao blames racial equity for Baltimore bridge tragedy

By Jesse Valentine - March 29, 2024
GOP Rep. Jennifer Kiggans donates thousands to far-right extremists

GOP Rep. Jennifer Kiggans donates thousands to far-right extremists

By Jesse Valentine - March 08, 2024
Ohio senate candidate Bernie Moreno: “Absolute pro-life no exceptions.”

Ohio senate candidate Bernie Moreno: “Absolute pro-life no exceptions.”

By Jesse Valentine - March 07, 2024
Anti-China Republicans pocket thousands from Chinese owned conglomerate

Anti-China Republicans pocket thousands from Chinese owned conglomerate

By Jesse Valentine - March 04, 2024
Republican Eric Hovde makes inconsistent statements about family history

Republican Eric Hovde makes inconsistent statements about family history

By Jesse Valentine - February 26, 2024
Republican David McCormick invests millions in website that platforms Holocaust denial

Republican David McCormick invests millions in website that platforms Holocaust denial

By Jesse Valentine - February 09, 2024
Lawmakers will again take up bills expanding, tightening gun laws

Lawmakers will again take up bills expanding, tightening gun laws

By Annmarie Timmins, New Hampshire Bulletin - January 31, 2024
UAW delivers rousing presidential endorsement for Biden over ‘scab’ Trump

UAW delivers rousing presidential endorsement for Biden over ‘scab’ Trump

By Ashley Murray, States Newsroom - January 24, 2024
Republicans Sam Brown and Jeff Gunter sling mud in Nevada senate primary

Republicans Sam Brown and Jeff Gunter sling mud in Nevada senate primary

By Jesse Valentine - January 17, 2024
A Young Texas Woman Almost Died Due To The Texas Abortion Bans – Now She’s Battling To Save Other Women

A Young Texas Woman Almost Died Due To The Texas Abortion Bans – Now She’s Battling To Save Other Women

By Bonnie Fuller - January 10, 2024
Health care legislation preview: Maryland advocates want to focus on access, patients in 2024 session

Health care legislation preview: Maryland advocates want to focus on access, patients in 2024 session

By Danielle J. Brown, Maryland Matters - January 08, 2024
How GOP senate hopefuls try to excuse the  January 6 insurrection

How GOP senate hopefuls try to excuse the  January 6 insurrection

By Jesse Valentine - January 05, 2024
NH lawmakers will be taking up major voting bills this year. Here are some to watch for.

NH lawmakers will be taking up major voting bills this year. Here are some to watch for.

By Ethan DeWitt, New Hampshire Bulletin - January 04, 2024
Republican US Senate candidates want to make Trump’s tax cuts permanent 

Republican US Senate candidates want to make Trump’s tax cuts permanent 

By Jesse Valentine - December 22, 2023
Rand Paul went all in on the Kentucky governor’s race. It didn’t work.

Rand Paul went all in on the Kentucky governor’s race. It didn’t work.

By - December 15, 2023
Texas governor and attorney general do little to curb state’s chemical plant crisis

Texas governor and attorney general do little to curb state’s chemical plant crisis

By Jesse Valentine - December 08, 2023
Likely GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde proposed tax hike for poorer workers and retirees

Likely GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde proposed tax hike for poorer workers and retirees

By Jesse Valentine - December 07, 2023
Whitmer signs specific criminal penalties for assaulting health care workers into law

Whitmer signs specific criminal penalties for assaulting health care workers into law

By Anna Liz Nichols, Michigan Advance - December 06, 2023
105 Republicans voted to expel Santos for things Trump has also done

105 Republicans voted to expel Santos for things Trump has also done

By Jesse Valentine - December 05, 2023
For Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, another Trump term is another chance to kill Obamacare

For Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, another Trump term is another chance to kill Obamacare

By Jesse Valentine - December 04, 2023
Florida Sen. Rick Scott backs Donald Trump in revived push to repeal Obamacare

Florida Sen. Rick Scott backs Donald Trump in revived push to repeal Obamacare

By Jesse Valentine - November 30, 2023
Tate Reeves took donations from power company that hiked customer rates

Tate Reeves took donations from power company that hiked customer rates

By Jesse Valentine - November 06, 2023
Daniel Cameron ran on depoliticizing the Kentucky AG’s office. He made it more political.

Daniel Cameron ran on depoliticizing the Kentucky AG’s office. He made it more political.

By Jesse Valentine - November 03, 2023
Republican operatives sound every alarm on current trajectory of 2023 governor’s race

Republican operatives sound every alarm on current trajectory of 2023 governor’s race

By Adam Ganucheau, Mississippi Today - October 24, 2023
Biden campaign launches new ad focused on Affordable Care Act

Biden campaign launches new ad focused on Affordable Care Act

By Kim Lyons, Pennsylvania Capital-Star - May 08, 2024
Fate of ‘game changer’ women’s health care bill in hands of Missouri Senate

Fate of ‘game changer’ women’s health care bill in hands of Missouri Senate

By Anna Spoerre, Missouri Independent - May 08, 2024
Republican Kari Lake attacks Democratic opponent with deceitful, inaccurate ad

Republican Kari Lake attacks Democratic opponent with deceitful, inaccurate ad

By Jesse Valentine - April 30, 2024