EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to a wire service error, it was incorrectly reported that Rep. Debbie Lesko is sponsoring legislation to ban abortions nationwide.
As Senate Democrats in Washington, D.C., vow to hold a doomed vote to enshrine abortion rights into law, Arizona Rep. Debbie Lesko says a nationwide ban abortions is unlikely — at least for now.
The desire for a nationwide ban reflects anti-abortion sentiments sweeping conservative states in the wake of a leaked draft opinion indicating a majority on the U.S. Supreme Court plans to overturn Roe v. Wade.
“All of these bills throughout the states are getting such a push because we expect that the Supreme Court will rule in our favor, in pro-life favor," said Lesko.
But Lesko acknowledged that any bill is likely doomed as long as Democrats control the House — a fact she hopes will change after the midterm elections this fall. Passage would also require change at the White House.
“If we get a Republican president in 2024, then we have a shot,” Lesko said.
For now, the effort by Senate Democrats to protect abortion rights is just as doomed — they lack they votes to get passed the filibuster.
Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema say they’ll both vote for an abortion rights bill, though Sinema has fiercely defended the filibuster, the Senate rule preventing votes from proceeding without a 60-senator majority.
