The House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday forbidding the use of any federal money for abortions, in lieu of a proposal that would ban so-called "late-term" abortions. That version was considered too extreme by moderate Republicans, and was pulled from consideration at the last minute. The Thursday vote was held on the 42nd anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, and thousands of anti-abortion rights activists were at the National Mall for the annual "March for Life" rally.
The bill passed yesterday on a 242-179 vote, and it re-upped what was passed by the last Congress. The President promised he will veto the bill.
Its chance of survival notwithstanding, the vote is an indication that the Republican Party, now with a majority in both chambers, is redrawing the political battle lines in the remainder of President Obama’s term. Should the party stake the centerpiece of its agenda on the issue of abortion? Would it backfire? Does the muscle flexing of Republican women here forecast an increasing voice for them?
Guests:
Lisa Mascaro, Congressional Reporter at the Los Angeles Times whose latest piece is on the abortion bill and its political implications for the Republicans
Katie Packer Gage, founding Partner of WWP Strategies, a political consulting and issue management firm based in Washington, DC. In 2012, she served as Deputy Campaign Manager of the Romney Presidential Campaign