McConnell Repeats Pledge to Never End Filibuster for ‘Any’ Issue, Including Abortion

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) once again vowed never to support ending the Senate filibuster in a floor speech on Monday, in opposition to Democrats’ attempts to advance debate on a bill to legalize abortion in federal law.

McConnell’s remarks came after Senator Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) claimed in a Washington Post interview that Republicans could eliminate the filibuster in order to pass a nationwide ban on abortions, if the GOP is able to take the House, Senate, and presidency in elections.

“When the opportunity presents itself, there’s no doubt in my mind that they’ll change the rules to pass a bill criminalizing abortion federally,” Murphy told the Post.

McConnell said in a floor speech hours after that interview was published that he would not end the filibuster.

“Some Democrats even want to try again to break the Senate in order to ram this through,” McConnell said on Monday, referring to the proposed bill to ensure federal protection for abortion. “I’ve clearly stated I will never—never—support smashing the legislative filibuster on this issue or any other.”

McConnell previously specified that he would not support ending the filibuster to pass a federal abortion ban in an interview with USA Today.

“No carve out of the filibuster—period,” McConnell said. “For any subject.”

The discussion comes after a draft Supreme Court opinion leaked to Politico last week indicated that the Court could overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed that the draft was authentic, although he noted that it did not represent “the final position of any member.”

The leaked draft has drawn widespread condemnation from Democrats, with President Biden calling it “radical” and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) saying the draft is “taking us back to the 1850s.”