-
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
The Senate is expected to vote on a bill codifying1 Roe2 v. Wade3 into law
The Senate vote will largely be a symbolic5 move by Democrats7 to show support for abortion8 rights after a leaked draft showed the Supreme9 Court may overturn the ruling.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Today, the Senate is scheduled to vote on a bill that would, if it passed, make abortion protections part of federal law rather than relying on the Supreme Court. Here's Patty Murray, a member of the Senate Democratic leadership.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PATTY MURRAY: When we vote on this bill, every single senator is going to have to go on the record as to whether they want to take their constituents10' rights away.
INSKEEP: Of course, everyone's waiting for a Supreme Court ruling on abortion. But even before the roll call, it's known this vote will fail because Democrats don't have the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster11. And there's even a question about whether they will have unanimous support within their own party. I spoke12 earlier today with NPR congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell.
KELSEY SNELL, BYLINE13: That is, at this moment, still unclear. And as is often the case, we are watching Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Now, he has voted against abortion protections in the past, but he has avoided giving reporters any answer on this specific bill. Now, the legislation they're voting on would guarantee the right of women to obtain abortions14 and for providers to provide them without, as the bill calls them, medically unnecessary restrictions15. You know, a version of this bill did fail in February. And, you know, Democrats say they're trying again because they say this is different now. It is a live issue. This is not a theoretical question, as a result of that draft opinion.
Now, Manchin voted against the version of the bill that was on the floor in February. And there had been some hope among Democrats that they could pressure two Republicans, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, to vote for this bill because Collins and Murkowski have supported abortion rights in the past. But that seems kind of unlikely at this point. You know, Collins and Murkowski have their own bill, and that does include some restrictions that Democrats reject.
INSKEEP: On the other side, would Republicans really pursue an abortion ban if they regained16 control of Congress?
SNELL: Well, you know, it kind of depends on who you ask. If you ask Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, he says that Republicans do not support getting rid of a filibuster, and no issue is exempt17 from that. Though, you know, he never explicitly18 said that they would never get rid of the filibuster to pass an abortion ban.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MITCH MCCONNELL: I think the sentiment in my conference is for this issue to be dealt with at the state level if we are, in fact, confronted with a final Supreme Court decision that throws this issue back into democratic processes.
SNELL: Now, that's a long way of - from saying that he would make that decision. He's basically saying that he wants the states to decide. He's also saying that both parties have held abortion votes in the past, and both parties have failed to get 60 votes when they've tried. But this is right now. Even if Republicans win control in November, President Biden would still be the president. And there's virtually no chance that Republicans would have enough votes to overcome a veto. So it's kind of a question that will be up for debate for many years to come.
INSKEEP: OK. Congressional stalemate, as on many, many issues, as a matter of fact. So what do Democrats, the people in control for the moment, plan to do next?
SNELL: There really isn't much that they can do. You know, some are promising19 a vote, and they want to keep voting and voting and voting to keep up the pressure. But, you know, that's not really a tactic20 meant to change the votes inside of Congress. It's more of a defensive21 strategy and an attempt to show voters that Democrats are trying on an issue that's very important to voters. And it's not clear that voters actually think that's useful. Virtually every Senate Democrat6 I've spoken to - and that's dozens in the past week - says that they just need more Democrats in the Senate. So they plan on campaigning on it. But like you said, this is a tale Democrats are all too used to right now - police reform, voting rights, climate change. You know, all of these things are things that voters want and Democrats can't pass.
INSKEEP: NPR's Kelsey Snell, thanks as always.
SNELL: Thanks.
1 codifying | |
v.把(法律)编成法典( codify的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 roe | |
n.鱼卵;獐鹿 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 wade | |
v.跋涉,涉水;n.跋涉 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 transcript | |
n.抄本,誊本,副本,肄业证书 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 symbolic | |
adj.象征性的,符号的,象征主义的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 democrat | |
n.民主主义者,民主人士;民主党党员 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 democrats | |
n.民主主义者,民主人士( democrat的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 abortion | |
n.流产,堕胎 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 supreme | |
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 constituents | |
n.选民( constituent的名词复数 );成分;构成部分;要素 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 filibuster | |
n.妨碍议事,阻挠;v.阻挠 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 byline | |
n.署名;v.署名 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 abortions | |
n.小产( abortion的名词复数 );小产胎儿;(计划)等中止或夭折;败育 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 restrictions | |
约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 regained | |
复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 ); 赢回; 重回; 复至某地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 exempt | |
adj.免除的;v.使免除;n.免税者,被免除义务者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 explicitly | |
ad.明确地,显然地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 promising | |
adj.有希望的,有前途的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 tactic | |
n.战略,策略;adj.战术的,有策略的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 defensive | |
adj.防御的;防卫的;防守的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|