Senate to vote on IVF package as Democrats look to corner Republicans after Trump statements
CBSSep 24
The Facts
A bill that would guarantee federal protections and insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments failed to secure the 60 votes necessary to be brought up for debate on Tuesday.
The measure fell nine votes short of advancing, as Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine) were the only Republicans to join Democrats in voting for the bill — the second time in three months the bill has been blocked.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Trump and the Republicans have done nothing but lie about their support for IVF, and this vote is just the latest evidence of their dishonesty. In fact, Republicans have done more to deter access to IVF, starting with Trump's nomination of the three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade — throwing women's reproductive rights into peril.
Republican narrative
Democrats were deceitful in bringing this bill up for a vote again. The vagueness of this measure opens the door to the federalization of abortion protections. It also protects the genetic engineering of embryos and commercialized surrogacy, morally questionable practices completely unrelated to IVF. Republicans couldn't vote for it despite their support for IVF.
Conservative narrative
Republicans must stop following Democrats down the road toward supporting unethical and immoral practices that could emerge from the slippery slope of protecting IVF access. In order to halt the Democrats' radical agenda, Republicans must put protecting preborn life and families first.