McConnell: Obama should intervene in abortion fight

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that the White House should help Republicans pass a human trafficking bill that has stalled because of an abortion provosion.

Democrats are expected to block the bill during a procedural vote Tuesday because the legislation includes the Hyde Amendment, which blocks federal funding for abortions. McConnell urged the administration to “get involved” to save the bill.

“The White House needs to get involved here, too,” the Kentucky Republican said from the Senate floor. “So far the White House has barely lifted a finger to help us pass this legislation.”

{mosads}McConnell said while the administration should get involved “because it’s the right thing to do,” he also suggested that a Democratic filibuster could negatively impact the White House.

“I think the White House should do this because it’s the right thing to do. But if that’s not enough, they should also consider the consequences of Democrats making a historic mistake,” he said. “If Democrats actually vote to filibuster help for the oppressed victims of modern slavery, the American people will not forget it.”

White House press secretary Josh Earnest on Monday declined to say whether the president would veto the anti-trafficking bill, noting it doesn’t currently have the votes to pass the Senate.

Democrats argue that they were misled over inclusion the abortion-related provision in the legislation and say they will withhold support.

“That vote is going to fail,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday. “Republicans have chosen to manufacture a political fight.”