Former Vice President Joe Biden changed his official stance on the use of federal funds for abortions.
According to video of his speech at a Democratic gala in Atlanta Thursday evening, Biden said he would no longer support the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal Medicaid funds for abortions. Just hours before, Biden reiterated his support for the amendment only to reverse course Thursday after he was castigated by reproductive rights groups and many of his 2020 challengers.
“I can’t justify leaving millions of women without the access to care they need, and the ability to exercise their constitutionally protected right,” he said. “If I believe health care is a right, as I do, I can no longer support an amendment that makes that right dependent on someone’s zip code.”
Biden said he decided to flip-flop on his past belief in light of the Republican-led attacks on women’s health care happening in conservative states across the country.
Biden was rung out for his support of the Hyde Amendment of 1076, which disproportionately harms poor and minority communities. It bars the use of federal funds for abortions in all cases, except rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is in danger.
BREAKING: Democrat Joe Biden announces he can no longer support the Hyde Amendment after getting attacked by Democrats over the last 24 hours for supporting it
He blames Republicans for his decision pic.twitter.com/vV1wTD3B3q
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) June 7, 2019
