Senator Shelley Moore Capito: leave the abortion decision to the states

Here was Senator Shelley Moore Capito’s statement after the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent abortion decision. In it, Capito clearly stated that the decision should be left to the states:

My statement on the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization: pic.twitter.com/SeBKSMiWf9

— Shelley Moore Capito (@SenCapito) June 24, 2022

On Thursday, at an online news conference with WV stenographers, Senator Capito reaffirmed that position. As the Bluefield Daily Telegraph reported:

But Capito said it still should remain in the hands of the states without the federal government stepping in with any abortion protection measures that trump state laws.

"I don't see a role for the federal government here," she said.

Apparently, Senator Capito did not get the memo – Congressional Republicans are moving for a total federal ban:

The Republicans' "leave it to the states" rhetoric is a lie.

This is a federal abortion ban with 121 cosponsors, all Republican – more than half of their conference. You can see the list here: https://t.co/1X7NgleO0m

It does not allow exemptions for cases of rape or incest. https://t.co/O4DI4t1SFb

— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) July 16, 2022

And from The Hill:

House Republicans are weighing what kind of national-level abortion ban legislation to pursue if they win the House majority next year. A 15-week ban or further is the table following the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. https://t.co/LN8goW3tCo pic.twitter.com/pCIJNh1p4k

— The Hill (@thehill) July 9, 2022

A prediction: Next year, if the Republicans control Congress, Senator Capito will support a national abortion ban and not one West Virginia “reporter” will follow-up by asking her why she no longer believes that abortion decisions should be made at the state level.

Senator Joe Manchin

The New York Times follows West Virginia's senator better than any state paper does. Recently:

Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who took more campaign cash from the oil and gas industry than any other senator, blew up the Democratic Party’s plan to fight climate change.

Here’s a look at how the plan unraveled as the Earth continued to warm.https://t.co/NWhgXJvuut

— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 15, 2022

And here’s an excellent op-ed in the New York Times by political science professor, by Leah C. Stokes:

“Over the last 10 years, the largest climate and weather disasters have cost Americans more than a trillion dollars — far more than the Democrats had hoped to spend to stop the climate crisis.”https://t.co/SzE9rBSv3b

— David Wallace-Wells (@dwallacewells) July 16, 2022

From that op-ed:

But one thing I have never understood about Mr. Manchin is how he looks his grandchildren in the eye. While he may leave his descendants plenty of money, they will also inherit a broken planet. Like other young people, Mr. Manchin’s grandchildren will grow up knowing that his legacy is climate destruction.

I think Joe Manchin has assured his place in the history of this planet.