Newly-elected Home Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), who has a well-documented document in opposition to reproductive rights, claimed that he doesn’t recall voting in opposition to fertility therapies or contraception.Johnson, who was elected by Home Republicans to the speakership three weeks after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted from his publish, made an look on …
Newly-elected Home Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), who has a well-documented document in opposition to reproductive rights, claimed that he doesn’t recall voting in opposition to fertility therapies or contraception.
Johnson, who was elected by Home Republicans to the speakership three weeks after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted from his publish, made an look on Fox Information Sunday with host Shannon Bream. Whereas mentioning criticism from a political motion committee known as EMILY’s Checklist, Bream requested the place Johnson stood on points concerning in vitro fertilization, contraception and abortion rights.
“He supported bans that will not solely criminalize abortion, however ban IVF therapies and customary types of contraception, and that you simply voted in opposition to entry to contraception,” Bream mentioned to Johnson, quoting EMILY’s Checklist. “Is that an correct evaluation of the place you might be? As a result of that’s not consistent with the American individuals.”
A 2022 ballot by Gallup discovered that 92% of People believed that taking contraception was morally acceptable and 62% believed that abortion was morally acceptable.
Johnson disagreed with the evaluation.
“I’m pro-life. I’ve mentioned very clearly I’m a Bible-believing Christian. I consider within the sanctity of each single human life,” Johnson mentioned. He went on to say that there are extra urgent points that the lawmakers are coping with in the intervening time — together with authorities funding and worldwide crises.
“To be clear, although, have you ever voted in opposition to fertility therapies and entry to contraception? Would you?” Bream requested.
“I don’t suppose so. I’m undecided what they’re speaking about. I actually don’t bear in mind any of these measures, however I’m personally pro-life,” the “excessive” Louisiana Republican responded.
Up till lately, Johnson was a low profile member of Congress, however he has been a staunch supporter of anti-abortion efforts. For instance, Johnson is one in all 29 co-sponsors for a January 2023 invoice aiming to defund Deliberate Parenthood. He additionally voted in opposition to the Proper to Contraception Act — which nonetheless managed to go within the Home final yr — that will codify entry to contraception.
He has even unfold unsupported claims that some types of contraception are abortion drugs, Rolling Stone reported.
A consultant for Johnson didn’t instantly reply to HuffPost’s request for remark.
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