On Monday, Democrats in Virginia’s House of Delegates forced a vote on an extreme anti-abortion bill that had been introduced by a Republican. By refusing to allow any changes to the bill, Democrats compelled their Republican colleagues to publicly state whether they supported or opposed the radical measures included in the proposed legislation.
The bill in question
The bill, introduced by Republican Delegate Tim Griffin, would have removed public funding for hospitals and clinics performing abortions — with no exceptions for rape, incest, or situations where the mother’s life is at risk.
Forcing the vote
Democrats in the Virginia House advanced the extreme bill to the point where all members of the chamber were forced to vote on it. Their aim was to compel Republicans to actually go on the record as supporting such extreme measures, which are unpopular in the state, or admit that they do not support them.
No wriggling out of it
Republicans attempted to amend the bill, scale it back, and have it taken off the agenda, but Democrats blocked them every time. Eventually, Republicans were forced to vote on the bill in its original form, as it was introduced by Griffin.
Poor excuses
Republican Minority Leader Todd Gilbert tried to argue that the bill should be amended, blaming its extreme nature on Griffin’s relative inexperience. But Democrats insisted that Republicans must face the results of their anti-abortion rhetoric.
Don’t get involved
“If the patron didn’t know what he was doing,” Democratic Delegate Candi Mundon King said, “maybe he should’ve stayed out of women’s business.”
Own up to it
“When the patron introduced this bill,” Mundon King said, “he knew exactly what he was doing.”
Not the first time
This isn’t the first time a politician’s bill has been used against them. As one Republican legislator admitted, Virginia Republicans have previously used the exact same tactic against a Democrat before.
Wiggling away
Griffin and other Republicans attempted to change the bill into a replication of the Hyde Amendment, which bans public funding for abortions with exceptions for rape, incest, and situations when the mother’s life is endangered. “The delegate has to speak to the bill,” Democratic House Speaker Don Scott said, denying this attempt, “not to the bill you wished you had introduced.”
Overwhelming vote
In the end, the vote against the bill was nearly unanimous, with 95 delegates voting no. A few Republicans abstained or voted yes.
Political mandate
The last election season in Virginia was characterized by Democrats as a mandate on reproductive rights in the state — one they believe they were given, having won majorities in the state House and Senate.
Little support for extremism
According to Gallup, over the last half a century support for abortion being illegal in all circumstances has never risen above 23%. In 2023, only 13% of Americans thought abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.
Widespread support
On the other hand, in 2023 51% of Americans thought abortion should be legal under circumstances, and 34% thought it should be legal under any circumstances. Over 50% of Americans described themselves as pro-choice.
Getting personal
According to a Vox analysis of polling, people are even more supportive of abortion when it becomes personal. “Among people who said abortion should only be legal in rare cases, 71 percent said they would give support to a close friend or family member who had an abortion, 69 percent said they want the experience of having an abortion to be nonjudgmental, 66 percent said they want the experience to be supportive, 64 percent want the experience to be affordable, and 59 percent want the experience to be without added burdens,” Vox reported.
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