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Senate fails in 49-51 vote to codify abortion rights, Internet calls it 'another slap in the face'

Democratic Sen Joe Manchin joined all 50 Republicans in opposing the effort to move the bill, known as the Women's Health Protection Act, forward

The Senate on Wednesday, May 11, failed in a 49-51 vote to codify abortion rights in a bill, giving Democrats a chance to publicly display their support for abortion rights. Democratic Sen Joe Manchin of West Virginia joined all 50 Republicans in opposing the effort to move forward the bill, known as the Women's Health Protection Act. Vice President Kamala Harris showed up to the Capitol and presided over the vote.

The vote comes at a time when the Supreme Court might take the decision to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. Although Democratic leaders pressed ahead with the test vote, it had already been clear that they would fall short of the 60-vote threshold that was required. Senator Chuck Schumer said that the need to bolster abortion rights at the federal level is too important to be ignored before November's midterm elections.

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"This is not a theoretical exercise, oh no. Protecting the right to choose at this critical moment is one of the most consequential votes we could possibly take, and the American people are watching," Schumer said on the Senate floor just before the vote. "The public will not forget which side of the vote senators fall on today, they will not forget who voted to protect their freedoms, and they will not forget those responsible for the greatest backslide of individual liberties in half a century."

Moments after the vote, President Joe Biden said in a statement, "This failure to act comes at a time when women's constitutional rights are under unprecedented attack – and it runs counter to the will of the majority of American people. To protect the right to choose, voters need to elect more pro-choice senators this November, and return a pro-choice majority to the House. If they do, Congress can pass this bill in January, and put it on my desk, so I can sign it into law." He later tweeted, "Once again – as fundamental rights are at risk at the Supreme Court – Senate Republicans have blocked passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act, a bill that affirmatively protects access to reproductive health care."

Earlier on May 11, Manchin had confirmed that he would vote against the Women's Health Protection Act. "Make no mistake, it is not Roe v. Wade codification," he said. "It is an expansion. It wipes 500 state laws off the books, it expands abortion, and with that, that's not where we are today. We should not be dividing this country further than we're already divided, and it's really the politics of Congress that's dividing the country."

The bill would ensure access to abortion across the country as many states have their own restrictions in place. It would also prohibit certain limits on providers. Democrats had tried to get the same bill through in February. However, the urgency now stems from a Supreme Court leak that showed a draft opinion that would overturn 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. The Supreme Court insisted that the document did not represent a decision or the final position of its members. 

Many social media users are furious after the Women’s Health Protection Act failed to advance in the Senate. "Women’s Health Protection Act fails to advance in the Senate 49-51. EVERY Republican voted against the measure. I pray people will flock to the ballot boxes this November. Sitting this one out is not an option if you care about women. Vote blue!" one user wrote on Twitter. "One vote short! WTAF! We need more women and less grumpy old GOP men in Congress," one user said. One user wrote, "I mean, it was expected. But it’s still another slap in the face to know how few people actually care about women."

Some are, on the hand, glad the bill failed. "If you support an abortion that is performed up to the day before delivery, you’re a vile piece of sh**. Since you liberals like to change the definition of things, a baby should now include one that’s inside the womb. Happy to see the bill fail," one user said, while another wrote, "The stupidity of the abortion vote is not only that it was doomed to fail, but it shined a spotlight on how feckless the Democrats are, all while raising unrealistic expectations that they could actually do something that would make a difference. "All the pressing problems in this country, and the US Senate is wasting its time on a vote to kill a defenseless fetus from conception until birth. A vote they knew would fail. The priorities and leadership in our nation are so bad," one user wrote.