Donald Trump's call for mandating free access to in-vitro fertilization has puzzled congressional Republicans, drawing a mix of skepticism and outright opposition across the party spectrum, from center-right to far-right lawmakers.
Some worried about
the high cost of such a policy. Others confessed they don't understand what he's proposing to do.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said "it's not clear to me" what Trump is proposing when asked about his IVF remarks.
And numerous Trump allies said his
announcement, in an interview with NBC News in August, came as a surprise to them.
"I got the sense maybe it was something that he thought of on his own and wanted to float out there," Hawley said, while adding that he hadn't heard from Trump before
the announcement. "He doesn't run his policy proposals by me."
None of the Republicans who spoke to NBC News said they had heard from the president directly on his IVF proposal either, though it would need to be passed by Congress to become law.
New abortion regulations took effect on Tuesday that critics argue will make it more difficult for women to access the procedure. "This is about making it as difficult as possible to obtain an abortion," a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood said.
Attorney General Josh Hawley praised the law in a statement issued on Monday, saying, "SB5 enacts sensible regulations that protect the health of women in Missouri and we will continue to vigorously defend these."
Source: Reuters on Missouri voting records for SB5
, Oct 24, 2017
Hawley opposes the CC survey question on funding abortion
The Christian Coalition Voter Guide inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Public Funding of Abortions (Such as Govt. Health Benefits and Planned Parenthood)'
Christian Coalition's self-description: "Christian Voter Guide is a clearing-house for traditional, pro-family voter guides. We do not create voter guides, nor do we interview or endorse candidates."
Source: Christian Coalition Surve 18CC-1b on Jul 1, 2018
Voted YES to protect infant survivors of abortion.
S.311/H.R.962: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act: Congress finds the following:
If an abortion results in the live birth of an infant, the infant is a legal person for all purposes under the laws of the United States, and entitled to all the protections of such laws.
(2) Any infant born alive after an abortion or within a hospital, clinic, or other facility has the same claim to the protection of the law that would arise for any newborn, or for any person who comes to a hospital, clinic, or other facility for screening and treatment or otherwise becomes a patient within its care.
In the case of an attempted abortion that results in a child born alive, any health care practitioner present at the time the child is born alive shall exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care practitioner would render to any other child born
alive at the same gestational age.
Opposing argument from Rewire.com, `Born Alive Propaganda,` by Calla Hales, 4/12/2019: From restrictive bans at various points of pregnancy to a proposed death penalty for seeking care, both federal and state legislators are taking aim at abortion rights. The goal? To make abortion illegal, criminalizing patients and providers in the process. One kind of bill making a recent resurgence is the `Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.` These bills aim to further the false narrative that abortions regularly occur immediately before or, according to the president, at the time of birth. Intentional action to end the life of an infant is already illegal. This is covered by federal and state infanticide laws. These bills do nothing but vilify physicians who provide reproductive health care.
Legislative outcome Referred to Committee in House; Senate motion to proceed rejected, 56-41-3 (60 required).
Source: Congressional vote 19-S0311 on Feb 5, 2019