JUST IN: Kamala Harris plots counter strike in anti-abortion states

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Vice President Harris will meet on Friday with Democratic state lawmakers from states that are anticipated to pass or strengthen abortion laws in the coming months, according to a senior White House official.

The states, Indiana, Florida, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Montana, all have Republican governors and legislatures controlled by Republicans, and a number of them have signaled their intent to further restrict access to abortions.

South Dakota and Florida have already enacted variants of an abortion ban, but they may hold special legislative sessions to further limit abortion. The special session on abortion in Indiana is expected to begin on July 25.

Since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on June 24, the administration has requested Harris to head its reaction. She has convened meetings with religious leaders, health-care professionals, constitutional law and privacy experts, and state attorneys general to strategize ways to safeguard abortion access and avoid the loss of other rights.

According to the person, Harris will encourage the legislators to continue pushing for reproductive rights in their respective states and emphasize the White House’s commitment to assisting them during Friday’s meeting.

Since the Supreme Court’s ruling, the administration has hurried to demonstrate it is doing all in its power to maintain access to abortions, and it has received criticism from Democratic base members who believe the White House is not doing enough.

Biden and Harris have urged Americans to show their outrage at the polls in November and give Democrats the congressional majority necessary to codify abortion access in federal law. However, for those activists whose votes gave the Democrats control of the White House and both chambers of Congress in 2020 and who are dissatisfied with the outcome, these exhortations sound hollow.

Biden has stated that his administration will aim to secure access to pharmaceutical abortions, which may be provided via telehealth visits and induced by tablets supplied by mail, so potentially circumventing state abortion regulations. The government has also worked to assist women in obtaining abortions across state boundaries.

States attempt to restrict women from traveling over state boundaries for abortions.

Friday’s meeting, which will be held in the ceremonial office of the vice president, will be live-streamed on the White House website.

In attendance are the Indiana House Minority Leader, Phil GiaQuinta, the incoming Florida House Minority Leader, Fentrice Driskell, the South Dakota House Minority Whip, Erin Healy, the Nebraska state Senator, Patty Pansing Brooks, and the Montana state Senator, Diane Sands.