U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said on June 6 that he no longer supports a long-standing congressional ban on the use of federal healthcare money for most abortions—legislation he had confirmed he was in favor of just a day before.
The Hyde Amendment was passed in 1976, more than two years after the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, to prohibit the use of federal funds to pay for abortion services, with exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or when there is a threat to the woman’s life.
On late June 6, Biden told a crowd at a Democratic Party fundraiser in Atlanta that he had changed his mind and would no longer support the Hyde Amendment because of recent abortion bans in select states.
“If I believe healthcare is a right, as I do, I can longer support an amendment that makes that right dependent on someone’s zip code,” Biden said.
On June 6, Biden explained that as a Roman Catholic, he had in 1976 voted to support the Hyde Amendment as a senator because he believed that those who were pro-life shouldn’t be compelled to pay abortions sought by others, and that women would still have access to abortion even without Medicaid insurance and other federal healthcare grants, The Associated Press reported.
It was part of what Biden has described as a “middle ground” on abortion.
Biden’s support for the Hyde Amendment had put him out of step with most of his Democratic presidential rivals, including Beto O'Rourke and Elizabeth Warren who had criticized his support for Hyde just this week.
Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion groups had also publicly criticized the former vice president for his stance on Hyde.
Repealing Hyde has become a defining standard for Democrats in recent years, making what was once a common position among moderate Democrats more untenable. This has become especially so of late, as seen in the dynamics of the 2020 Democratic primary race.
At its 2016 convention, the party included a call for repealing Hyde in the Democratic platform, doing so at the urging of nominee Hillary Clinton.
The Associated Press reported early on June 7 that, according to a senior Biden campaign official speaking on condition of anonymity, some aides were surprised at the speed at which the 76-year-old had changed his stance, given his long history of explaining his abortion positions in terms of his faith.
States Recognize Heartbeat
Abortion has re-emerged as a central national issue in recent weeks after nine states passed laws that restrict or ban abortions. The latest bans are not yet in effect.The abortion ban laws are part of a pro-life movement to challenge Roe v. Wade. Only Alabama’s bill is specifically designed to challenge Roe v. Wade. None of the bills passed this year would punish the mother. Only abortionists would face criminal charges.
Most other states follow the standard set by the Roe v. Wade decision, which prohibits states from banning abortions prior to when the fetus is deemed “viable”—that is, potentially able to live outside its mother’s womb—deemed usually at 24-28 weeks.
In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court said that if unborn children are persons, then they have the right to life. The ruling determined that unborn children are not persons, but acknowledged that the case to prohibit states from banning abortions would “collapse” if “the fetus is a person,” because then its “right to life would then be guaranteed” by the Constitution.
