'Screw Him': Dem slaps down Tuberville's latest attempt to force policy change
A furious top Democrat vowed to slap down Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s latest plans to restrict Pentagon abortion policy Thursday, according to a new Politico report.
“He lost, and he’s trying to tear down this country because he disagrees with the policy,” Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash) reportedly said. “Screw him.”
Smith warned Tuberville (R-LA) against including abortion travel policy restrictions into the National Defense Authorization Act, Politico reports.
His warning came with a subtle reference to a whirlwind Election Day that saw abortion rights constitutionalized in Ohio and Democrat lawmakers who support abortion claiming victories in tight races.
“If the Republicans insist upon that, we will not have an NDAA,” Smith reportedly said. “And I don’t believe they will insist on that.”
Tuberville reportedly hopes Senate and House Republicans will team up to include the provision in the bill and force President Joe Biden to accept it.
But first he’ll face pushback from a Democratic-led Senate who Tuesday received a clear message that abortion right law is voting booth gold. Politico notes the “potential X-factor” is the socially conservative House Speaker Mike Johnson, who might be willing to join the fray.
But Tuberville tensions have been mounting steadily in congress for nine months as the conservative lawmaker blocked more than 400 military promotions in protest of the Pentagon policy that reimburses troops who cross state lines to obtain an abortion or reproductive care.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) took to the Senate floor Thursday to protest what he described as a “reckless military blockade” by making requests for 363 military promotions, forcing Tuberville to object to each and every one.
C-Span video shows a livid Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) snapping, “Is there an objection?” and spinning his chair around to stare at Tuberville.
With a small smile, Tuberville replies, again and again, “I object.”