Biden, Harris to visit Raleigh Tuesday as Supreme Court considers abortion medication case

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris appeared together in Raleigh Tuesday to talk about healthcare, the same day the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case that could impact access to a commonly used abortion medication.

The visit also coincided with the recent anniversary of passage of the Affordable Care Act, as former President Donald Trump has said he wants to try again to repeal it if he wins the November election.

Gov. Roy Cooper (D) recently spoke with other Democrats, noting that North Carolina just began to implement expanded Medicaid coverage in December after years of political battles.

“That dream come true could turn into a nightmare if Trump wins,” said Cooper. “When he was president, Donald Trump came within one vote, one vote of repealing this monumentally important law.”

Trump has called the ACA “a disaster” and said last year he’s “seriously looking at alternatives.”

Biden and Harris also spoke a few hours after the Supreme Court hears arguments regarding the FDA’s handling of the drug mifepristone, which is used for abortions.

As the Hill reports, the case could have “sweeping consequences.” The FDA made changes in the last several years, including allowing mifepristone to be used up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. The lawsuit centers on whether the FDA overstepped its authority in making those changes.

“There’s a question about whether the FDA used the right protocol. They didn’t follow their own rules when they approved the drugs for use,” said Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the NC Values Coalition, who filed an amicus brief in the case. “We need protections for women and girls in place, and the FDA has been negligent.”

Jenny Black, the CEO of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, said millions of people have used the drug “safely and effectively” since it was first introduced.

“The baseless arguments being made by the anti-abortion extremists who brought this case highlight their blatant agenda to ban abortion outright, using whatever means necessary. This case threatens to set a dangerous legal precedent that would undermine the FDA’s authority and upend our public health system for years to come,” she said.

David McLennan, an expert on state politics at Meredith College, has been polling voters to gauge attitudes about North Carolina’s new abortion law. It restricts abortion after 12 weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest, protecting the mother’s life and life-limiting fetal abnormalities. It also puts requirements in place before 12 weeks, including requiring in-person medical visits to obtain abortion medication.

“People are pretty split in North Carolina about the 12-week ban, the new law in North Carolina. But, any threat to access to abortion, I think, could work out to the Democrats’ advantage,” he said.

McLennan said the decision to have Biden and Harris appear together in Raleigh is significant.

“I think it sends a message that a lot of people talk about should Biden replace Harris or not. This just sends a message that that’s not even on the table anymore. They’re going to be a team during the entire fall campaign season,” he said. “They’re doing lots of events, crisscrossing the country, going from Arizona to North Carolina, places like that. So, I think it’s in part also addressing the concerns about Biden’s age. If he can maintain a healthy, very active campaign style, then that may blunt some of those questions.”

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