GOP lawmakers backtracking on fertility treatments get confronted with voting records

An Alabama Supreme court ruling that had a devastating impact on fertility treatment centers statewide has caused numerous Republican lawmakers to speak out against it. But social media users are reminding them about their records.

The Alabama Supreme Court essentially concluded that embryos used in certain in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments are actually humans, which could open up potential parents and medical professionals to serious litigation.

Republicans apparently believe that could be a hindrance during the election season, because they uniformly tried rejecting it.

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GOP Rep. Nancy Mace, a consistent supporter of Donald Trump, said Saturday, "I will stop any and all efforts to ban IVF." She was quickly hit with a community note from the social media network saying she "sponsored HR1011, a bill that enshrines in law the same personhood from conception argument that was used to ban IVF in Alabama."

"Whether she was aware or not, she has de facto supported such a ban," according to the note.

Kim Masters, The Hollywood Reporter editor-at-large, said in response, "You’re pregnant with toxic ideology and you can’t get an abortion."

Former Hill staffer Alisha Heng also chimed in Saturday:

"Does Nancy Mace ever get tired of lying? Nancy has already co-sponsored the Life at Conception act which would’ve put IVF at risk. #SC01"

Columnist Molly Jong-Fast also provided some examples.

"I think it’s absolutely wild that mainstream media outlets are giving republicans the benefit of the doubt on IVF," she said. "If you voted against protecting it, you shouldn’t get credit for a few lame statements now."

Jong-Fast included a screen grab of social media comments by Rep. Mike Rogers, who said he opposes "any and all efforts to restrict access to IVF" despite sponsoring four bills that would have the same effect as the Alabama ruling. Similarly, Rep. Michelle Steel said IVF allowed her to start her family despite co-sponsoring the Life at Conception Act, which didn't include carve outs for IVF, according to the screenshot.