On the campaign trail, Senator Warnock often mentions being a “pro-choice pastor” and references his many conversations with families who face difficult decisions.
During his only debate with his opponent and in campaign appearances, the Senator has often said, “As a pro-choice pastor, I’ve always believed that a patient’s room is way too small for a woman, her doctor, and the United States government.”
“I trust women more than I trust politicians,” he says when asked about reproductive freedom issues. Below is the complete Warnock campaign website statement on “Choice: Women’s Health Care and Reproductive Justice:”
“Reverend Warnock believes the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is a departure from our American ideals, and a failure to recognize and protect a core protection for women in this country to make their own health care decisions. Warnock believes it cannot stand and is fighting to restore the right of Georgia women to make their own health care decisions.
“Reverend Warnock has been an advocate for women’s health and reproductive justice his entire life and is proud to have been endorsed by NARAL and Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Since his time as a teen peer counselor in high school and his work with the Georgia Department of Health during college, Warnock has fought to increase safe and affordable access to contraceptives and achieve reproductive justice for women and families.
“As a pro-choice pastor, Warnock has both a profound reverence for life and an abiding respect for choice. He fundamentally believes that health care is a human right, and that health care decisions should be left between a patient and their doctor.”
Electing a 51st Democrat is a Parliamentary Gamechanger!
There are a number of critically important STRATEGIC reasons why it is important for Democrats to re-elect the Rev. Senator Raphael Warnock as the 51st Democrat in the United States Senate.
With the current 50-50 Senate membership, there is a ”power share agreement” between Democrats and Republicans which mandates an equal split on ALL Senate committee membership. This arrangement gives Republicans power to block many proposals with parliamentary maneuvers.
First, when a committee vote is tied, Republicans can force a discharge petition which requires an extra vote and extra floor time. Second, the “nuclear option” allows Republicans to boycott committee meetings and thus prevent votes from happening. This maneuver has been used to block appointments and Republicans have threatened to use it again to prevent federal judicial appointments by President Biden. There are currently more than 85 current judicial vacancies.
Since 50 Democrats and 49 Republicans have already been elected, the re-election Senator Warnock on December 6 would send the power share agreement to the history books!
Once Democrats have a majority of 51 senators:
- Democrats will have a majority on all committees. And, this majority would give Democrats the power to issue investigative subpoenas without Republican support. Big Shift!!
- 51 Democrats allows for occasional Senate absences – Democrats could have two senators absent and still hold votes – an important factor as COVID is now endemic and given the relatively high average age of United States Senate members!! HINT: Georgia is blessed to have Senators as young as Ossoff and Warnock!
- 51 Democrats provides a margin for occasional defections. In the past two years, West Virginia’s Senator Joe Manchin and Arizona’s Senator Kristen Sinema were able to hold important Democratic supported legislative initiatives hostage.
- Without a power share agreement in place, the Senate Majority Leader will be able to file cloture on bills without having to wait 12 hours. Cloture is the parliamentary procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote.
Further, looking ahead, having 51 Democratic Senators will make a huge difference in 2024 when the electoral map shows Democrats have more currently serving members up for re-election than Republicans.
One last fun fact from the New York Times: If Senator Warnock wins the December runoff, 2022 will become the first year Democrats have not lost Senate seats under a Democratic president since 1962 and the first time no Senate incumbent has lost in either party since 1914.
For more information about Senator Warnock, check his campaign website or follow on social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For information on how to help Senator Warnock in the runoff, click here.