Senate Republicans kill legislation to protect access to contraceptives

A group of Senate Republicans successfully blocked a Democrat-led bill on Wednesday that attempted to protect access to contraceptives in a 51-39 vote that fell far short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation.

The bill was introduced by Democratic Sens. Ed Markey from Massachusetts and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii. It would have protected an individual's right to “obtain contraceptives and to voluntarily engage in contraception” on the federal level, and defines contraceptives as “any drug, device, or biological product intended for use in the prevention of pregnancy."

The legislation comes as Democrats attempt to hone their messages for the 2024 election on reproductive rights, and a similar bill that federally protects access to In vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments is expected in the Senate next week, per the Associated Press.

“We saw what the Supreme Court did on abortion, and now there’s a real risk they may do the same thing on contraception,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said on MSNBC’s "Morning Joe." “I’m really sick of this idea that the Republicans think they can say two things simultaneously — they can talk to their extremist group and say, ‘I’ll give you everything you want. We are going to ban abortion, IVF, contraception, everything you want,’ and then try to say to the rest of America, ‘Boy, we don’t want any part in that.’”

Republicans have slammed the attempt as a partisan attack, because there is not currently a ban on contraceptives. 

“This is a show vote. It’s not serious. It doesn’t mean anything. And, plus, it’s a huge overreach. It doesn’t make any exceptions for conscience, it creates mandates,” Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn said, according to NBC News. “It’s a phony vote because contraception, to my knowledge, is not illegal. And to suggest that somehow it’s in jeopardy, I think, should be embarrassing.”

Although most Republicans voted against the measure, two Republican senators voted with Democrats:  Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer voted against the measure for procedural reasons.

“If it's a messaging bill, my message is: I support a woman's access to contraception. Pretty simple. So if we're going to play messaging, that's my message,” Murkowski said.