President Biden’s choice of nominee for the job of deputy budget director, Shalanda Young, believes the Hyde Amendment needs to be removed to ensure economic and racial justice.
Young’s views on abortion were made public after her nomination had advanced out of the committees and down party lines this past week.
Even though she earned general bipartisan support on Capitol Hill, 15 of the 18 Republicans who sit on both committees conclusively voted against advancing Young’s nomination.
The New York Post reported that the Republican senators who voted against Young disproved of her perspective toward the Hyde Amendment, the law that forbids federal tax dollars being used for abortions. Although, in cases of incest, rape, or to save the life of the mother, it is allowed.
Young told the senators that removing the Hyde Amendment is essential to promote “racial justice.”
The Post had reported that the President seemed to be in favor of ending the Hyde Amendment in order to fulfill his commitment to provide healthcare for all women.
Young believes removing the Hyde Amendment is a matter of economic and racial justice because she says it mostly impacts low-income, use Medicaid. and likely women of color.
Ohio Senator Rob Portman (R) said at first he supported Young’s nomination. That quickly changed after he learned of her position on the Hyde Amendment.
“I had planned to support Ms. Young based on her testimony before the committee,” Portman said, Roll Call reported. “In reviewing her answers to the committee’s questions for the record, though, I’ve got to say I was really troubled by her responses, particularly her strong advocacy for eliminating the Hyde amendment.”
Senator Lindsey Graham, the senior member of the Budget Committee, voted to continue with Young’s nomination, but promised that she would not stand behind any regulation that “changes Hyde or chips away at it.”
Senate Homeland Security Chairman Gary Peters had voiced his concern over sudden resistance by Republicans, and called Young’s perspective “fact.”
“In her written responses, Ms. Young stated that ending the Hyde amendment is a matter of economic and racial justice because its impact is felt most among low-income women of color. This is simply a statement of fact,” Peters said, Roll Call reported. “But she also confirmed that she will follow current law, which includes the Hyde amendment. So I have a hard time following the objections of my Republican colleagues.”
Young’s position on crucial issues like abortion found new heights after reports indicated that top Democrats want Biden to nominate Young as director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget
Biden’s previous nominee, Teera Nanden, withdrew her nomination amid bipartisan scrutiny.