What 2018 midterms mean for pro-life, pro-family agenda
by Calvin Freiburger, LifeSite:
As the dust settles from the 2018 midterm elections, pro-life and pro-family advocates are now turning to the question of how to advance their goals with a Congress split between Democrats and the GOP.
Democrats took control of the House of Representatives Tuesday night, but Republicans gained at least two seats to their narrow Senate majority. Results in Arizona and Florida’s Senate races still haven’t been finalized, with a recount expected in the latter.
The most positive result for conservatives is the GOP’s retention and expansion of its Senate majority, which will not only preserve but strengthen its ability to confirm President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees. While most of his judges have overwhelmingly pleased conservatives, there has been some concern about Trump making more moderate picks to appease liberal GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. Judges with clearer pro-life credentials can now presumably be confirmed without their support.
The day after the election, Trump also fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions, with whom the president has repeatedly expressed displeasure. Sessions’ Justice Department opened an investigation last year into Planned Parenthood’s sale of aborted babies’ organs, but has stayed silent ever since. A new Attorney General may be inclined to take a more aggressive stance on such scandals.
Loss of the House represents an unmitigated setback for conservatives, however, with policy improvements now largely limited to what the administration can do via executive action.
Related Posts
Tags
Share This
