Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) will appear at a fundraiser for Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL), a conservative Democrat who opposes abortion.
Chicago Business reported on Wednesday that Bustos will attend the $1000+ breakfast fundraiser in June for Lipinski’s reelection campaign.
The news comes after Alabama and Georgia passed strict abortion measures, both of which the DCCC slammed as “extreme” and “unconstitutional” on Wednesday. Alabama’s ban on almost all abortions was later signed by the state’s governor.
“Extreme and unconstitutional state abortion laws in AL and GA put women’s lives at risk, and we won’t stand for their assaults on our fundamental rights,” the DCCC tweeted. “Democrats in Congress will continue to fight back while working to expand access to quality, affordable health care for all.”
Extreme and unconstitutional state abortion laws in AL and GA put women’s lives at risk, and we won’t stand for their assaults on our fundamental rights. Democrats in Congress will continue to fight back while working to expand access to quality, affordable health care for all.
— DCCC (@dccc) May 15, 2019
According to NBC News reporter Alex Moe, Bustos believes the Alabama law is “going back in time” and that “we should be concerned.”
When asked how the DCCC’s position on the abortion laws squares with its endorsement of Lipinski, DCCC communications director Jared Smith told TPM that it was a matter of the organization upholding its mission to help incumbent Democrats.
“When Cheri ran to become Chair of the DCCC, she made a promise to stand behind all of our incumbents in their campaigns- from the Blue Dogs to the Progressives,” Smith wrote in an email to TPM. “She believes in keeping her word, and she believes in keeping our focus on defeating Republicans so we can continue growing the most diverse Majority in our nation’s history.”
“She’s proud of her 100 percent pro-choice record and does not agree with Congressman Lipinski on this issue, but Cheri is also leading the fight to hold Republicans across the country accountable for their relentless attacks on the health and well-being of women and their families,” he added.
