The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and the Democrats have been scrambling to find workarounds in the week since.
President Joe Biden called for the 50-50 Senate to lower its 60-vote threshold for ending debate on abortion bills… and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., went a step further.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., had a message for Biden and Ocasio-Cortez. The senator took issue with the liberal proposal to alter the Senate’s longstanding rules.
“5 days after losing at Supreme Court, Democrats want to blow up the Senate,” Graham said, presumably referring to Biden’s proposal. “It took us 50 years to overturn Roe vs Wade. We worked hard, won elections, and put conservatives on the court.”
“There is an assault on democracy in this country, but it is by the Left not the Right,” Graham continued, subverting Ocasio-Cortez’s own slogans about the Supreme Court’s attempt to “threaten our democracy.”
Ocasio-Cortez hit back and said Democrats “will not comply” with the law.
“You sound insecure,” she tweeted. “As you should be.”
Ocasio-Cortez went on to call Graham’s pro-life efforts “a stain on our country.”
“We will not comply,” she continued. “I don’t care how long you ‘worked’ to seize control of people’s bodies. That right belongs to individuals, not you.”
Take a look —
You sound insecure. As you should be.
Your attempt to seize bodily autonomy from millions of women & LGBT+ people is a stain on our country.
I don’t care how long you “worked” to seize control of people’s bodies. That right belongs to individuals, not you.
We will not comply. https://t.co/yOfFcRSK94
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 1, 2022
to confront the Court’s structure (and core gerontocracy problem of lifetime appointments) via public appeal. While he did not succeed, that check came from the ppl & Congress, NOT scotus.
The ruling is Roe, but the crisis is democracy. Leaders must share specific plans for both
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 25, 2022
Ocasio-Cortez has been tweeting about workarounds to the Supreme Court’s verdict in Dobbs v. Jackson.
In addition to pushing Biden’s plan for debate reform, Ocasio-Cortez has mentioned some old priorities, like expanding sex education and packing the court.
She’s also made some newer proposals, like passing the Healthcare Providers Safety Act and holding floor votes on whether to “codify” other landmark cases.
Ocasio-Cortez has also joined Sen. Elizabeth Warren. D-Mass., in calling for abortion clinics on federal grounds.
Critics wonder about the potential for a Republican president to close the clinics, and they worry about the possibility of a standoff between state executives and federal executives. They also question whether federal lands — like national parks and certain courthouses — are more accessible than nearby blue states.
Still, Ocasio-Cortez remained confident in her plans.
“We can do it,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. “We can at least TRY.”
Take a look —
– Restrain judicial review
– Expand the court
– Clinics on federal lands
– Expand education and access to Plan C
– Repeal Hyde
– Hold floor votes codifying Griswold, Obergefell, Lawrence, Loving, etc
– Vote on Escobar’s bill protecting clinicsWe can do it!
We can at least TRY— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 26, 2022
We have to codify Roe vs. Wade into law.
If the filibuster gets in the way, we should provide an exception to the filibuster to deal with the Supreme Court decision.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 30, 2022
Here’s a tracker.
Now, go down this list and find your Senator. If they only say they’re “open to reform,” that’s not enough. We need a clear position.
If their position isn’t abolished or talking filibuster, or if their answer isn’t clear, CALL THEM. ☎️https://t.co/ojs6J2YdEV
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 30, 2022
The Horn editorial team