Democrats are lying: Republicans in hotly contested races almost unanimously support IVF availability

PHOENIX — Democrats are seeking to make in-vitro fertilization an election issue, with Vice President Kamala Harris declaring during the presidential debate that “under Donald Trump’s abortion bans, couples who pray and dream of having a family are being denied IVF treatments.” But Republican candidates across the crucial swing states almost unanimously back IVF availability — with the former president even making taxpayer-paid treatments part of his platform.The Senate failed to move forward a bill federally protecting IVF this week, 51-44 with 60 votes needed; GOP Sens.Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins crossed party lines to support it.

The bill has failed to move before, as Republicans disagree with some of its provisions.GOP Sens.

Ted Cruz and Katie Britt have tried to pass their own legislation, called the IVF Protection Act, which Britt said would protect “IVF access AND religious liberty for all,” but Democrats blocked that effort.But there’s essentially uniform agreement from those in numerous races from coast to coast that IVF access should be protected, as some within the Republican Party have called for restrictions on the procedure.In February, the National Republican Senatorial Committee encouraged its candidates to come out in support of IVF protection policies, Axios reported.

This comes as former President Donald Trump proposes taxpayer-funded IVF.Regulations and protections of the fertility treatment gained national attention earlier this year following an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that put the practice in jeopardy, which caused Republican Gov.Kay Ivey to sign legislation legally shielding IVF providers.

In Congress, Rep.Matt Rosendale, (R-Mont.), also pushed against funding IVF at the Department of Defense, leading to broader concerns about the federal future of the procedure.

As IVF and concerns for its protection catapult to the national stage, The Post spoke with swing-state Republicans in competitive races to set the rec...