KOMMONSENTSJANE – J.D. VANCE STANDS HIS GROUND…

8/31/2024

JD Vance was booed – where does their firefighters code of ethics fit in?

His reply: SEMPER FI GUYS!

Firefighter Code of Ethics
Background
The Fire Service is a noble calling, one which is founded on mutual respect and trust between firefighters
and the citizens they serve. To ensure the continuing integrity of the Fire Service, the highest standards of
ethical conduct must be maintained at all times.
Developed in response to the publication of the Fire Service Reputation Management White Paper, the
purpose of this National Firefighter Code of Ethics is to establish criteria that encourages fire service
personnel to promote a culture of ethical integrity and high standards of professionalism in our field. The
broad scope of this recommended Code of Ethics is intended to mitigate and negate situations that may result
in embarrassment and waning of public support for what has historically been a highly respected profession.
Ethics comes from the Greek word ethos, meaning character. Character is not necessarily defined by how a
person behaves when conditions are optimal and life is good. It is easy to take the high road when the path
is paved and obstacles are few or non-existent. Character is also defined by decisions made under pressure,
when no one is looking, when the road contains land mines, and the way is obscured. As members of
the Fire Service, we share a responsibility to project an ethical character of professionalism, integrity,
compassion, loyalty and honesty in all that we do, all of the time.
We need to accept this ethics challenge and be truly willing to maintain a culture that is consistent with the
expectations outlined in this document. By doing so, we can create a legacy that validates and sustains the
distinguished Fire Service institution, and at the same time ensure that we leave the Fire Service in better
condition than when we arrived.

****

Are people waking up to the fact that the country is being taken to the cleaners by the Biden/Democrats/Pelosi/Obama/Harris? The firefighters need to TRUST – BUT VERIFY.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/jd-vance-booed-by-firefighters-union-one-day-after-they-welcomed-walz-sounds-like-we-got-some-haters/ar-AA1pF4hd?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=1c71dc280e204f7b89b477413c2e2425&ei=16

ttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/jd-vance-booed-by-firefighters-union-one-day-after-they-welcomed-walz-sounds-like-we-got-some-haters/ar-AA1pF4hd?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=1c71dc280e204f7b89b477413c2e2425&ei=16

Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, walks on stage to speak to attendees at the International Association of Fire Fighters Convention on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, walks on stage to speak to attendees at the International Association of Fire Fighters Convention on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)© AP

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance was booed by a firefighters union in Boston one day after the group praised his Democratic counterpart, Tim Walz.

As soon as the Ohio freshman Senator walked onto the stage Thursday at a convention for the International Association of Firefighters, representing firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, he was met with jeers.A New $59 Smartwatch That Can Test Blood Sugar Painlessly Just in a Few Seconds

“Semper fi, guys,” said Vance, a Marine veteran, as the crowd erupted with boos. “Sounds like we got some fans and some haters. That’s okay. Listen to what I have to say here. I’ll make my pitch.”

Vance received a smattering of cheers after promising that the Trump-Vance administration would protect free speech, including criticism of Covid-19 vaccine mandates, as well as protecting pensions.

The mostly negative reaction comes one day after the Minnesota governor was greeted with a warm round of applause when he walked into the same convention before giving remarks.

After Vance was booed on Thursday, a spokesperson for the Harris-Walz said in a statement: “JD tried selling firefighters on the Trump-Vance Project 2025 agenda to undermine workers, gut labor protections, and cut overtime pay – and got hosed. This election, workers are fired up to elect Vice President Harris and Governor Walz. They won’t be fooled by Donald Trump or JD Vance’s lies about their plan to undermine unions and America’s middle class.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/completely-out-of-touch-with-real-people-teachers-union-president-responds-to-jd-vance-s-comments/vi-AA1pMktk?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=6fa3a8b9f1314f539d9035190086521b&ei=14

ttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/completely-out-of-touch-with-real-people-teachers-union-president-responds-to-jd-vance-s-comments/vi-AA1pMktk?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=6fa3a8b9f1314f539d9035190086521b&ei=14

ttps://www.realclearpolicy.com/articles/2023/07/26/why_should_dhs_take_randi_weingarten_seriously_after_the_pandemic_968618.html

Just add an ‘h’ to the above to read.

*****

The Independent

JD Vance gets booed throughout speech at firefighter’s convention

Vance appears to have more “haters” than fans these days. Not only is he considered the least popular vice presidential candidate in modern history, but he has been on the receiving end of many negative reactions since joining the GOP ticket.

Past comments of Vance calling Vice President Kamala Harris a “childless cat lady” have come back to haunt him. The childless community, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff’s e- wife and Jennifer Aniston have condemned the remark.

Resurfaced texts also emphasize his ideological pivot from once calling Trump “America’s Hitler” to becoming his running mate, which has angered former classmates and friends.

Since becoming Trump’s veep pick, Democrats have labeled him as “weird” — a descriptor he has tried to ditch, but a number of strained social exchanges have made that effort more difficult.

(Yes, but Democrat Marxists have TDS. The Marxists always use lies to bury the real story. Just like the person on this whole article is made up about Vance.)

One of his recent jokes at a Wisconsin rally fell flat and backfired. “Well, I found a good friend from back home who embellishes and lies a lot, I’m having him stand in for Tim Walz,” Vance said earlier this month. The internet was quick to speculate that his “friend” was Republican presidental nominee Donald Trump, who, according to the Washington Post, made more than 30,000 false or misleading statements during his presidency.

In another painful exchange, Vance visited a cheesesteak joint in Philadelphia and wound up being accused of committing a “crime against humanity.”US:Why everyone is excited about this $59 New Blood Sugar Smartwatch

The Ohio Republican walked into Pat’s King of Steaks, which famously serves its cheesesteaks with only American cheese, provolone or cheez whiz. However, Vance dared to ask why they “hate Swiss cheese so much?”

While Vance was seemingly referencing John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign, when he asked for a sandwich with Swiss cheese at Pat’s, the internet thought the exchange hurt his campaign chances.

Similarly, last week, Vance tried to have conversations with employees in a donut shop in Georgia before his remarks. But the exchange devolved into incredible depths of awkwardness, involving minimal responses, one employee asking to remain off camera, and Vance using the term “sprinkle stuff.”

This article has been amended to include a statement from the Harris-Walz campaign and that Vance had received cheers at some points during his speech.

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

*****

In our town our firefighters are outstanding when anyone needs help. They are amazing and so professional when they enter your home helop.

Here is something for the firefighters to munch on:

ttps://patriotclash.com/rfk-jr-s-vp-pick-nicole-shanahan-drops-brutal-ad-on-severe-trump-derangement-syndrome/

Nicole Shanahan, the vice-presidential pick for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has launched a campaign ad that takes a direct swing at what many view as a pervasive issue in American politics: Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS). This tongue-in-cheek diagnosis captures the intense fixation on former President Donald Trump, which Shanahan argues has overshadowed critical national issues.

The ad wastes no time in capturing attention, opening with the provocative question: “Are you or your loved ones suffering from illnesses such as TDS?” It paints a vivid image of a society so deeply engrossed in animosity towards Trump that it obstructs meaningful dialogue and problem-solving. By focusing on Trump, the ad suggests, many Americans ignore pressing concerns like skyrocketing inflation, rampant illegal immigration, and unchecked corporate corruption. This misplaced priority, according to Shanahan, has turned what should be rational political discourse into an echo chamber of anger and denial.

To counter this phenomenon, the ad introduces “Independence”—a metaphorical remedy for those ensnared by TDS. It challenges viewers to break free from the constraints of mainstream media narratives, urging a return to critical thinking and informed decision-making. This concept of Independence is not just a call for political detachment but an invitation to engage with the country’s genuine challenges without the blinding influence of media-driven hysteria.

Featuring testimonials from former TDS sufferers, the ad compellingly illustrates the transformative power of this newfound Independence. One narrator recounts a past belief that Trump posed a democratic threat, only to realize the true culprits are a “corrupt oligarchy” manipulating the narrative. Another narrator confesses to having “blindly hated” political opponents without considering facts or policies, now embracing a renewed commitment to democratic principles.

The ad concludes with a sharp, cautionary note: “Independence may not be for everyone,” it warns, particularly those comfortable with being misled about political realities or those who support what the ad derisively calls “Orwellian totalitarianism” or “communist fiscal policy.” The side effects of embracing Independence, it humorously notes, include “an awakening of rational thought,” the capacity to “identify propaganda,” and a revitalized “love of democracy.”

Nicole Shanahan’s ad is not just a campaign message; it’s a clarion call to refocus national discourse on substantial issues, urging Americans to rise above divisive obsessions and engage with the real challenges confronting the nation.

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KOMMONSENTSJANE – Gold Star Families Slam Kamala Harris for ‘Playing Politics’ Over Trump’s Visit to Arlington National Cemetery..

9/2/2024

Shame on NPR!

ttps://dailyheadlines.com/npr-caught-faking-trumps-arlington-visit/

8/31/2024

Story by Andrea Vacchiano

 • 38m • 2 min read

ttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gold-star-families-slam-kamala-harris-for-playing-politics-over-trump-s-visit-to-arlington-national-cemetery/ar-AA1pMF3T?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=9cbfff4452f34925914afada3e5d48fc&ei=63

FOX News

View on Watch

Vice President Kamala Harris was recently excoriated by Gold Star family members who accused the Democratic presidential candidate of politicizing an incident at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday.

The messages were posted on former President Trump’s Instagram account. Eight videos, each featuring different parents of service members killed by ISIS-K terrorists amid the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan on Aug. 26, 2021, were published in total.

The videos were released in the wake of a statement published by Harris on Saturday, where the vice president criticized Trump for taking photographs at a wreath-laying ceremony event on Monday. The Army said this week that an Arlington National Cemetery official was “abruptly pushed aside” while interacting with Trump’s staff. 

“As Vice President, I have had the privilege of visiting Arlington National Cemetery several times,” Harris said. “It is not a place for politics. And yet, as was reported this week, Donald Trump’s team chose to film a video there, resulting in an altercation with cemetery staff.”

Kamala Harris was called out by Gold Star families over a statement she released about Trump on Saturday. Getty Images© Getty Images

“Let me be clear: the former president disrespected sacred ground, all for the sake of a political stunt,” she claimed, before adding that she would “never politicize” such an event.

The Gold Star family members maintained that they had asked Trump for photographs, as opposed to Trump taking pictures to advance his campaign. In one video, the father of Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz called Harris’ post “heinous, vile and disgusting.”Why This Shoe is a Game-Changer for Over 50s?

“Why did we want Trump there? It wasn’t to help his political campaign,” Mark Schmitz said in the video. “We wanted a leader. That explains why you and Joe didn’t get a call.”

Darren Hoover, the father of Marine Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, said that Harris lacks “empathy and basic understanding” about Monday’s event, and stressed that Trump’s appearance was respectful.

HARRIS SLAMS TRUMP OVER ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY ALTERCATION, PROMPTING FIERY RESPONSE FROM JD VANCE

Vice President Kamala Harris slammed former President Donald Trump over last week’s incident at Arlington National Cemetery. Getty Images© Getty Images

“In keeping with the reverence and respect that is given to all members of our military that are buried there, we invited President Trump,” he said. “We are the ones that asked for the video and the pictures to be taken at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”

Hoover also added that Trump has “been there for us from the very beginning,” and criticized Harris for “playing politics” over the incident.

“You should be ashamed and embarrassed [about] your lack of empathy and decency as a human being,” the father added. “You are only in this for the power and prestige. You don’t care for our military or the citizens of this country.

“You should hang your head in shame at your actions or lack thereof.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris campaign for comment.

Original article source: Gold Star families slam Kamala Harris for ‘playing politics’ over Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery

****

https://www.msn.com/en-us/ns/politics/harris-slams-trump-for-incident-at-arlington-national-cemetery/ar-AA1pMkvx?ocid=BingNewsSerp

ttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/harris-slams-trump-for-incident-at-arlington-national-cemetery/ar-AA1pMkvx?ocid=BingNewsSerp

Harris slams Trump for incident at Arlington National Cemetery (msn.com)

Senator Cotton, who was not present during Trump’s trip to the cemetery, said “neither the families nor President Trump violated cemetery regulations or policies” and claimed the “political apparatchiks working for the incompetent secretary of the Army disrespected the wishes of these Gold Star families.”

Reporter has theory why Harris is speaking out now about Trump’s Arlington National Cemetery incident.

Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday sharply criticized Donald Trump over the incident Monday during the former president’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery, saying that he “is unable to comprehend anything other than service to himself.”

Veterans, service members and their families “should be honored, never disparaged, and treated with nothing less than our highest respect and gratitude,” Harris wrote in a lengthy post on social medi

She continued: “It is my belief that someone who cannot meet this simple, sacred duty should never again stand behind the seal of the President of the United States of America.

Trump has faced controversy over his visit to the cemetery after a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the 13 US service members who were killed in the Kabul airpot bombing in 2021. Trump campaign officials have said an individual physically blocked the former president’s team from accompanying him during the visit, and a cemetery spokesperson confirmed to CNN “there was an incident” and a “report was filed.”

The US Army issued a stark rebuke of Trump’s campaign over the incident, saying Thursday that participants in the ceremony “were made aware of federal laws” regarding political activity at the cemetery, and “abruptly pushed aside” an employee of the cemetery.

Saturday’s statement marks the first time the vice president has directly addressed the controversy as she attempts to draw a contrast between herself and her rival ahead of their September 10 debate. Michael Tyler, the Harris campaign’s communications director, previously called the incident “pretty sad” in an interview on CNN but said it is what people have “come to expect from Donald Trump and his team.”

Christy Shamblin, the mother-in-law of Marine Corps. Sgt. Nicole Gee, who was killed at Kabul airport’s Abbey Gate in 2021, attended the Arlington event. Shamblin said Saturday that she hadn’t witnessed any altercation and that that the media should focus on the consequences of the Afghanistan withdrawal instead of the controversy over Trump’s visit.

“I understand that there may have been a little bit of a misunderstanding, but … let’s talk about the Americans and the Afghans we left behind. Let’s talk about the people we brought over that weren’t vetted. Let’s talk about the wounded, and that’s what we want to bring focus back to,” Shamblin said on CNN’s “Smerconish.”

The Trump campaign on Saturday sent out a statement from Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, an Army veteran and Trump ally, defending the former president and attacking Army Secretary Christine Wormuth.

Senator Cotton, who was not present during Trump’s trip to the cemetery, said “neither the families nor President Trump violated cemetery regulations or policies” and claimed the “political apparatchiks working for the incompetent secretary of the Army disrespected the wishes of these Gold Star families.”

Accounts of the incident on Monday have varied, with the campaign insisting there were no violations of the law, while cemetery officials have said Trump’s team was told ahead of time to avoid political activity. Federal law prohibits political campaigning or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, according to a statement from Arlington National Cemetery obtained by CNN.

A video of the visit posted by the Trump campaign on TikTok showed the former president walking through Arlington and visiting grave sites, with audio of him criticizing the Biden administration’s management of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

NPR first reported there had been a “verbal and physical altercation” during the cemetery visit. A source with knowledge of the incident told the outlet that a cemetery official attempted to prevent Trump’s team from photographing and filming in the area where recent US casualties are buried. In response, Trump campaign staff “verbally abused and pushed the official aside,” according to NPR.

An Army spokesperson said while the incident was reported to the police department at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, the employee in question “decided not to press charges” so the Army “considers this matter closed.”

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KOMMONSENTSJANE – Abortion Debate Senate Republicans Block Bill Protecting IVF.

8/31/2024

For your information. I really don’t believe this bill is ready for prime time at this time. Too many questions still not answered about the responsibilities.

https://www.deseret.com/politics/2024/06/14/abortion-debate-senate-republicans-block-bill-protecting-ivf/

ttps://www.deseret.com/politics/2024/06/14/abortion-debate-senate-republicans-block-bill-protecting-ivf/

PoliticsFamily

Senate Republicans block bill to allow access to IVF

Democrats said to be pushing election-year message on GOP resistance to reproductive rights

Published: June 14, 2024, 2:02 p.m. MDT

Share

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., left, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., speak to reporters about a vote to protect rights for access to in vitro fertilization to achieve pregnancy, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a Democrat-sponsored bill that would protect access to in vitro fertilization and other assistive reproductive technology. J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press

Lois M. Collins

By Lois M. Collins

Lois M. Collins is a special projects and family issues reporter at Deseret News, including health, parenting and family policy.

Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a Democrat-sponsored bill that would protect access to in vitro fertilization and other assistive reproductive technology.

“On a vote of 48 to 47, all but two Republicans opposed advancing the bill, which would give Americans the statutory right to receive fertility treatments and decide how their reproductive material is used, stored and disposed of,” The New York Times reported. “That left the measure well short of the 60 votes it needed to move forward, an outcome Democrats anticipated and even welcomed as part of their strategy to remind voters where Republicans stand on issues of abortion and reproductive health.”

Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, broke ranks with their colleagues to support the bill.

The bill is the Right to IVF Act, sponsored by Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Cory Booker, D-N.J. It would codify the right to the fertility treatment and require those who insure government employees, military families and veterans to cover treatment. The bill would supersede any state-level attempt to restrict access to IVF.

According to The Associated Press, “After Roe v. Wade was overturned, questions on reproductive care have mostly been turned over to individual states. For a time earlier this year, several clinics in Alabama suspended IVF treatment after the state’s Supreme Court ruled frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. The state later enacted a law providing legal protections for IVF clinics, but Democrats have argued that Congress should act to guarantee nationwide access to reproductive care like IVF and contraception.”

The vote came the day after the Southern Baptist Convention voted to oppose use of in vitro fertilization, as Deseret News reported. “The resolution on IVF, approved at the convention’s annual gathering, says that Southern Baptists should ‘reaffirm the unconditional value and right to life of every human being,’ including embryos, and use only ‘reproductive technologies consistent with that affirmation,’” per the article.

About IVF

In vitro fertilization is the most common form of assistive reproductive technology used in the U.S. to help couples who have trouble conceiving. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “in 2021, 86,146 infants (2.3% of all babies born in the U.S.) were conceived with reproductive assistance. With IVF, women preserve their eggs, sperm or reproductive tissues to have children later.”

IVF is also used to preserve future ability to have children of females undergoing treatment for cancer, when that treatment could harm their eggs. The article said that “in 2018, over 69% of the 120,000 individuals of reproductive age diagnosed with cancer required fertility preservation procedures and services, now considered a standard of care.”

An estimated 12 million U.S. babies have been born through in vitro fertilization, according to federal statistics.

Mixed messaging

The addition of IVF to the abortion debate is tricky territory, as it is a procedure that allows more babies to be born, but also can involve creating multiple embryos and only using one or two. What happens to the others is the heart of the discussion.

NBC News reported that “before the vote, GOP senators said they favor legal IVF but prefer a narrower bill.” Murray criticized the Republican bill, saying it “has huge loopholes that would let states restrict IVF in all different kinds of ways. It purposefully ignores what happens to unused embryos and it would do nothing to stop fetal personhood laws from totally upending IVF care.”

Related

Major Christian group votes to oppose IVF, adding to national debate over future of the procedure

Per NBC, “Ahead of the vote, Senate Republicans moved to express their support for IVF. They sought to advance a narrower bill that would cut off Medicaid funding for states if they banned IVF. All 49 GOP senators signed a statement by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., accusing Democrats of waging ‘a partisan campaign of false fearmongering intended to mislead and confuse the American people.’”

“We strongly support continued nationwide access to IVF, which has allowed millions of aspiring parents to start and grow their families,” the senators said in a joint statement.

The Washington Post wrote that Donald Trump, expected to be the GOP presidential nominee, issued a statement supporting IVF, noting that Republicans “want to make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, not harder.”

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden blasted the vote, pointing out that the week before, Senate Republicans blocked a proposal to guarantee access to contraception. “This disregard for a woman’s right to make these decisions for herself and her family is outrageous and unacceptable,” he said in a statement.

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa is sponsoring a separate bill to protect contraception access, according to CNN.

The public view

Pew Research Center survey published in May found overwhelming support for access to IVF, with 70% saying it’s a good thing. Only 8% are opposed. The rest are unsure. Women and men are similar in their views and most religious groups also support IVF. Pew reported that “white nonevangelical Protestants and religiously unaffiliated Americans are particularly likely to say IVF access is a good thing (78% each). Clear majorities of white evangelicals (63%), Black Protestants (69%) and Catholics (65%) also say this.”

So do 6 in 10 Republicans, compared to 1 in 10 who deem it bad. Nearly 3 in 10 aren’t sure. Among Democrats, 79% call IVF a good thing, while 5% consider it bad. Sixteen percent aren’t sure.

The Wall Street Journal reported that “abortion and fights over related issues such as IVF and contraception are expected to drive turnout” in the 2024 presidential election.

kommonsentsjane

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KOMMONSENTSJANE – DON’T SEE GWEN WALZ’S NAME ON THE BALLOT?

8/31/2024

Democrats said to be pushing election-year message on GOP resistance to reproductive rights They do anything for a vote. They are always looking for a way to help Planned Parenthood so they can get their share of the take. Don’t forget the butcher shops and the baby body parts being sold.

ttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mind-your-own-business-gwen-walz-scolds-jd-vance-after-ivf-comments/ar-AA1pJSzi?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=7c2341fc8e134ab8a73fb5825f3ec33d&ei=13

Don’t see Gwen Walz’s name on the ballot?

Is this COACH Walz’s new defense – is it called blocking/tackling?

‘Mind your own business’: Gwen Walz scolds JD Vance after IVF comments (msn.com)

Gwen says to JD Vance – MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

What’s she talkin’ about. It is certainly as much his business as hers.

When the dust settles – then the house has to be cleaned..

****

Following is information to have us better understand why this is so important.

https://www.deseret.com/politics/2024/06/14/abortion-debate-senate-republicans-block-bill-protecting-ivf/

ttps://www.deseret.com/politics/2024/06/14/abortion-debate-senate-republicans-block-bill-protecting-ivf/

I don’t really like for the Democrats getting involved in the BABY BUSINESS. Years ago, they were involved with Planned Parenthood selling all of those BABY BODY PARTS.

What are they trying now getting involved with selling sperms?

PoliticsFamily

Senate Republicans block bill to allow access to IVF

Democrats said to be pushing election-year message on GOP resistance to reproductive rights

Published: June 14, 2024, 2:02 p.m.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., left, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., speak to reporters about a vote to protect rights for access to in vitro fertilization to achieve pregnancy, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a Democrat-sponsored bill that would protect access to in vitro fertilization and other assistive reproductive technology. J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press

Lois M. Collins

By Lois M. Collins

Lois M. Collins is a special projects and family issues reporter at Deseret News, including health, parenting and family policy.

Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a Democrat-sponsored bill that would protect access to in vitro fertilization and other assistive reproductive technology.

“On a vote of 48 to 47, all but two Republicans opposed advancing the bill, which would give Americans the statutory right to receive fertility treatments and decide how their reproductive material is used, stored and disposed of,” The New York Times reported. “That left the measure well short of the 60 votes it needed to move forward, an outcome Democrats anticipated and even welcomed as part of their strategy to remind voters where Republicans stand on issues of abortion and reproductive health.”

Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, broke ranks with their colleagues to support the bill.

The bill is the Right to IVF Act, sponsored by Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Cory Booker, D-N.J. It would codify the right to the fertility treatment and require those who insure government employees, military families and veterans to cover treatment. The bill would supersede any state-level attempt to restrict access to IVF.

According to The Associated Press, “After Roe v. Wade was overturned, questions on reproductive care have mostly been turned over to individual states. For a time earlier this year, several clinics in Alabama suspended IVF treatment after the state’s Supreme Court ruled frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. The state later enacted a law providing legal protections for IVF clinics, but Democrats have argued that Congress should act to guarantee nationwide access to reproductive care like IVF and contraception.”

The vote came the day after the Southern Baptist Convention voted to oppose use of in vitro fertilization, as Deseret News reported. “The resolution on IVF, approved at the convention’s annual gathering, says that Southern Baptists should ‘reaffirm the unconditional value and right to life of every human being,’ including embryos, and use only ‘reproductive technologies consistent with that affirmation,’” per the article.

About IVF

In vitro fertilization is the most common form of assistive reproductive technology used in the U.S. to help couples who have trouble conceiving. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “in 2021, 86,146 infants (2.3% of all babies born in the U.S.) were conceived with reproductive assistance. With IVF, women preserve their eggs, sperm or reproductive tissues to have children later.”

IVF is also used to preserve future ability to have children of females undergoing treatment for cancer, when that treatment could harm their eggs. The article said that “in 2018, over 69% of the 120,000 individuals of reproductive age diagnosed with cancer required fertility preservation procedures and services, now considered a standard of care.”

An estimated 12 million U.S. babies have been born through in vitro fertilization, according to federal statistics.

Mixed messaging

The addition of IVF to the abortion debate is tricky territory, as it is a procedure that allows more babies to be born, but also can involve creating multiple embryos and only using one or two. What happens to the others is the heart of the discussion.

NBC News reported that “before the vote, GOP senators said they favor legal IVF but prefer a narrower bill.” Murray criticized the Republican bill, saying it “has huge loopholes that would let states restrict IVF in all different kinds of ways. It purposefully ignores what happens to unused embryos and it would do nothing to stop fetal personhood laws from totally upending IVF care.”

Major Christian group votes to oppose IVF, adding to national debate over future of the procedure

Per NBC, “Ahead of the vote, Senate Republicans moved to express their support for IVF. They sought to advance a narrower bill that would cut off Medicaid funding for states if they banned IVF. All 49 GOP senators signed a statement by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., accusing Democrats of waging ‘a partisan campaign of false fearmongering intended to mislead and confuse the American people.’”

“We strongly support continued nationwide access to IVF, which has allowed millions of aspiring parents to start and grow their families,” the senators said in a joint statement.

The Washington Post wrote that Donald Trump, expected to be the GOP presidential nominee, issued a statement supporting IVF, noting that Republicans “want to make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, not harder.”

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden blasted the vote, pointing out that the week before, Senate Republicans blocked a proposal to guarantee access to contraception. “This disregard for a woman’s right to make these decisions for herself and her family is outrageous and unacceptable,” he said in a statement.

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa is sponsoring a separate bill to protect contraception access, according to CNN.

The public view

Pew Research Center survey published in May found overwhelming support for access to IVF, with 70% saying it’s a good thing. Only 8% are opposed. The rest are unsure. Women and men are similar in their views and most religious groups also support IVF. Pew reported that “white nonevangelical Protestants and religiously unaffiliated Americans are particularly likely to say IVF access is a good thing (78% each). Clear majorities of white evangelicals (63%), Black Protestants (69%) and Catholics (65%) also say this.”

So do 6 in 10 Republicans, compared to 1 in 10 who deem it bad. Nearly 3 in 10 aren’t sure. Among Democrats, 79% call IVF a good thing, while 5% consider it bad. Sixteen percent aren’t sure.

The Wall Street Journal reported that “abortion and fights over related issues such as IVF and contraception are expected to drive turnout” in the 2024 presidential election.

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