Title: Democrats for Life urge DNC to change party platform on abortion | TheHill
Headings: Democrats for Life urge DNC to change party platform on abortion
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Democrats for Life urge DNC to change party platform on abortion
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Content: Fifty-six state legislators also signed the letter addressed to the Democratic National Committee’s Platform Committee. The letter urges the Democratic Party to adopt the abortion language from its 2000 platform, which recognized differences of opinion on abortion as a “source of strength” and welcomed Americans of all abortion stances. ADVERTISEMENT
The letter argues that the party’s embrace of abortion rights will alienate voters, particularly in battleground states. “We should not cede large swathes of the United States to the Republican Party,” the letter reads. “ In the US, pro-life Democrats have been a critical part of the coalition to expand voting rights, improve health care, and pass criminal justice reform. These accomplishments would not have been possible if the Democratic Party had in place a litmus test on abortion.” The 2020 Democratic platform, which was released last month and will be voted on and formally approved by Democratic National Committee (DNC) members at next week's virtual convention, unequivocally supports abortion rights. “Like the majority of Americans, Democrats believe that every woman should be able to access high-quality reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion,” the draft platform reads. In the draft, Democrats also commit to restoring federal funding for Planned Parenthood, opposing state laws that limit abortion rights, repealing the Hyde Amendment, which bars the use of federal funds to pay for abortion services, and codifying the Roe v. Wade court case that provides a legal defense of abortion. ADVERTISEMENT
Friday's letter, however, calls for the party to abandon language supporting the repeal of the Hyde Amendment and codification of Roe v. Wade.