Joe Lombardo killed a bipartisan bill that would protect access to infertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF), in his latest effort to appease anti-choice extremists and rip away reproductive health care across Nevada. Reminder: Lombardo has vetoed more bipartisan legislation than any other governor in Nevada history.
Lombardo vetoed this IVF bill less than 72 hours after the American Christian Caucus urged him to oppose the legislation — a Christian nationalist group that said “democracy is tyranny.” Lombardo’s ties to the American Christian Caucus go back years, with Lombardo inviting them to the Governor’s mansion multiple times as the group fought to “defend” Lombardo’s veto power.
After opposing a widely popular ballot measure enshrining abortion rights into Nevada’s state constitution and vowing to support a 15-week abortion ban, Lombardo continues to jeopardize the rights of Nevadans and put thousands of women’s health at risk.
Read more below:
American Journal News: Lombardo kills IVF bill after pressure from Christian nationalist group
By Jesse Valentine
Key points:
- Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo killed a bill protecting access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), seemingly to appease radical anti-abortion groups
- Lombardo’s move shows the hold anti-abortion activists still have over the party.
- “After vetoing IVF protections for Nevadans, Joe Lombardo continues to cater to radical anti-abortion extremists and chip away at reproductive freedoms,” said Kate Sosland, spokesperson for the Nevada Democratic Party. “His anti-choice beliefs are clear.”
- Senate Bill 217 would have established a state right to reproductive treatments, including IVF and intrauterine insemination. It also would have required insurers, including Medicaid, to cover such procedures.
- The veto came less than 72 hours after a coalition of anti-abortion groups sent a letter urging Lombardo to oppose the legislation. The letter was signed by representatives of the Family Research Council and Moms for Liberty, both of which the Southern Poverty Law Center recognizes as hate groups.
- Lombardo is closely aligned with the ACC and invited the group to events at the governor’s mansion in 2024 and 2025.
- An earlier Instagram post by the ACC said the group was working to “defend” Lombardo’s veto power.
- The ACC has stirred controversy with more incendiary social media posts, including a 2019 post claiming COVID-19 was a “hoax” and a 2023 post that said “democracy is tyranny.”
- “Gov. Lombardo had the opportunity to make Nevada the first state in the country to provide Medicaid coverage for comprehensive fertility care, including IVF treatment,” said Denise Lopez of Reproductive Freedom for All of Nevada. “Instead, he chose to cater to his MAGA extremist allies, and Nevadans will pay the price.“
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