(RepublicanWire.org) – Despite Democrats’ stronger-than-expected showing in the midterm elections, President Joe Biden is not confident he will be able to check off another part of his agenda.
While taking reporters’ questions in Indonesia Monday, Biden was asked by NBC News’ Peter Alexander, “What can Americans expect from Congress as it relates to abortion rights after the midterms?”
“I don’t think they can expect much of anything other than we’re going to maintain our positions. I’m not gonna get into more questions. I shouldn’t even answer your question,” Biden responded.
He went on to explain, “I don’t think there’s enough votes to codify [Roe v. Wade] unless something happens unusual in the House. I think we’re going to get very close in the House, but I don’t think we’re going to make it.”
In October, the president shared that his first legislative priority, if Democrats expanded their majorities, would be protecting abortion access.
“The court got Roe right nearly 50 years ago,” Biden declared. “And I believe Congress should codify Roe once and for all.”
He went on, “Right now, we’re short a handful of votes. If you care about the right to choose, then you’ve got to vote. That’s why in these midterm elections, it’s so critical to elect more Democratic senators to the United States Senate and more Democrats to keep control of the House of Representatives.”
“The first bill that I will send to the Congress will be to codify Roe v. Wade. And when Congress passes it, I’ll sign it in January — 50 years after Roe was first decided the law of the land,” he added.
Biden’s comments were met with celebration from pro-life advocates, who have worked in states around the country to pass new legislation in response to the Supreme Court’s June ruling.
The “codify Roe” bill actually would go much further than the 1973 ruling. Nicknamed the Abortion Without Limits Up to Birth Act, it would force states to legalize abortions for basically any reason up to birth and force taxpayers to pay for them. The bill, which Democrats named the Women’s Health Protection Act, also would end parental consent for minors and jeopardize conscience protections for doctors and nurses who refuse to abort unborn babies.
Polls consistently show that Americans support limits on abortion, including parental consent and bans on taxpayer funding for elective abortions.
A 2022 Marist poll found that just 36 percent of Americans believe abortions should be legal without any restrictions. Additionally, 73 percent oppose using tax dollars to fund abortions.
Similarly, a 2021 Associated Press poll found that 65 percent believe second-trimester abortions should be illegal and 80 percent believe they should be illegal in the third trimester.
In October, U.S. Catholic bishops condemned Biden’s “single-minded extremism” on abortion after he named the radical pro-abortion bill as his top priority for 2023. One archbishop described the legislation as “child sacrifice,” saying it’s what “one would expect from a devout Satanist, not a devout Catholic.”