After Alabama's embryo ruling, Senate Republicans have been put on the defense by Democrats on a weighty issue: IVF
. With top Democrats arguing that Republicans’ anti-abortion positions are incompatible with a pro-IVF posture, Republicans have been put in an uncomfortable position during an election year.
Senate Democrats have introduced at least two major pieces of legislation they say aim to enshrine basic IVF and contraceptive rights. Republicans have been near unanimous in blocking their passage, saying there isin “any state in the country to ban fertility treatment,” and “there is no place in the country where contraceptives are not allowed or prohibited in any way.
Sen. James Lankford explained the basis of Republican leadership’s messaging, or lack thereof, during an interview with the“If I go backward and say six months ago, were Republicans posting about IVF online? You would say no, and you would say that’s normal. Why should they post online about IVF? Because there’s not a threat to it. So now your question is Democrats are posting like crazy on this. So why aren’t you? Because it’s not a threat. No one’s taking away IVF,” Lankford said.
When asked if there is any tension between being pro-IVF and pro-life, Sen. Lankford broached some of Rubio and Budd’s concerns. The only Senator on Capitol Hill who offered to interview with the, the Oklahoma Republican was adamant during a call that IVF “is passionately pro-life.” However, Lankford also brought up worries he has about “the embryos that are frozen and that remain,” calling it, “a moral challenge.
Federal data backs Lankford up. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, basic health care factors including “obesity, strenuous physical labor, excessive exercise, substance use, heavy drinking, high blood pressure and others to increasing rates of infertility.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says the same: “Lifestyle factors—what you eat, how well you sleep, where you live, and other behaviors—have profound effects on health and disease.
, “You know, the Supreme Court jumped in to help out a disaster when somebody dropped some of those embryos. But the Statehouse jumped in, and they did a clarification, passed a law, and Governor Ivey’s already signed it.” He added, “We’re all for IVF.”] is just the latest step in Democrats’ attempts to make this election all about abortion. Sen. Tuberville fully supports IVF, which is legal in Alabama and a great option for many families.
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