Vice President Mike Pence stepped in twice on Thursday to save a Senate resolution aimed at killing an Obama administration rule that prevents states from blocking federal grants to abortion providers.
Thursday afternoon, he helped break a 50-50 tie to pass the resolution, which is now on its way to President Trump’s desk. And earlier in the day, he broke another 50-50 tie in a vote to proceed to the measure.
In both cases, Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voted against GOP leaders.
Thursday’s resolution was written under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to overturn recent regulations. Their target is a rule from the Department of Health and Human Services that prohibits states from denying Title X funding to abortion providers.
In February, the House voted 230-188 to overturn the regulation, and Senate passage would send the bill on to President Trump’s desk to sign.
