Donald Trump
Donald Trump: “I am pro-life.” “Several months ago, when questioned about his position, Trump responded by saying the public ‘would be surprised’ by his stance and, in an interview with Laura Ingraham from Fox News leading up to the conference, Trump characterized himself as ‘pro-life’ and he repeated that apparent reversal when he told the audience at CPAC, ‘I am pro-life’ and pledged to fight for the reversal of Obamacare, which contains abortion funding loopholes.” [LifeNews, 4/8/11]
Donald Trump suggested that he would support shutting down the federal government in order to defund Planned Parenthood. “Donald J. Trump suggested he supported shutting down the federal government to stop funding for Planned Parenthood in the wake of videos that show officials with the group discussing fees for tissue from aborted fetuses. In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Monday, as the Senate voted down a measure to stop federal financing for the group, Mr. Trump called the clips ‘disgraceful.’ Mr. Trump cited the efforts to shut down the government in order to halt funding for the Affordable Care Act, a movement in 2013 led by Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas and a candidate to be the party’s presidential nominee, and suggested that tactic should be used again. ‘I think you have to in this case also,’ Mr. Trump said, noting that in the instance involving Affordable Care Act, ‘the Republicans decided not to stick together and they left a few people out there like Ted Cruz.’” [New York Times, 8/4/15]
Donald Trump said that Planned Parenthood was “like an abortion factory.” TRUMP: “Well, the biggest problem I have with Planned Parenthood is the abortion situation. It’s like an abortion factory. You can’t have it and you shouldn’t be funding it and that should not be funded by the government. I feel strongly about that. That’s my biggest problem with Planned Parenthood because it really — if you look at it and you look at the work they do, it really has become so heavily centered on abortion. You can’t have that.” [CNN, 8/11/15]
Donald Trump said that Planned Parenthood was “disgusting and absolutely they should be defunded.” “Businessman and 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says Planned Parenthood should ‘absolutely’ be defunded. Mr. Trump was asked by The Blaze TV host Dana Loesch about recently released undercover videos recorded by a pro-life group that show Planned Parenthood executives discussing abortion methods and prices for fetal tissue. […] ‘It’s disgusting and absolutely they should be defunded,’ he said. ‘I thought, you know, it’s so cavalier and so horrible. I just thought it was incredible.’” [Washington Times, 7/22/15]
Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz on contraception: There’s no “rubber shortage in America.” “Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, dismayed at liberal criticisms of the restrictive reproductive policies favored by some Republicans, mused on Monday that there was not a ‘rubber shortage in America.’ It seems he would know. ‘When I was in college we had a machine in the bathroom, you put 50 cents in and voilà!’ he told a crowd in Bettendorf, Iowa, during an extended riff on the politics of reproductive health.” [New York Times, 11/30/15]
Ted Cruz opposed abortion even for victims of rape and incest, and referred to birth control pills as “abortion-inducing drugs.” “Cruz, like Akin, opposes abortion for victims of rape and incest. He also labels forms of contraception such as Plan B ‘abortifacients’, which isn’t scientifically or medically correct. At the Value Voters Summit last fall, Cruz repeatedly referred to contraception as ‘abortion-inducing drugs.’” [PBS, 3/23/15]
Ted Cruz supported the Life at Conception Act. “With the general election now past, come January several newly elected pro-life champions will be joining the fight on Capitol Hill for a Life at Conception Act. One of those champions will be Ted Cruz from Texas whose strong support for the Life at Conception Act contributed to his success.” [Pro Life Alliance, 11/9/12]
Ted Cruz supported a federal ban on abortions after 20 weeks. “Gov. Mike Pence and a group of other possible Republican presidential contenders have thrown their support behind a federal ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and other possible Republican contenders wrote to U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, in support of his proposed ban, which is based on the disputed premise that a fetus can feel pain at that stage.” [Indianapolis Star, 9/17/14]
Ted Cruz was a cosponsor of the Senate version of legislation designed to defund Planned Parenthood. “This bill ensures that Title X family planning grants are used for their intended purpose and are prohibited from being used by organizations that provide abortions or fund those that do. ‘Planned Parenthood and organizations like it that profit off the destruction of innocent life do not deserve one more dime from American taxpayers. I have been proud to lead the charge against the funding of the big-abortion industry since my first days as a state legislator, and I am honored to continue this fight by reintroducing the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act. This legislation would simply clarify the original intent and spirit of the law to ensure that Title X federal funded grants will no longer be awarded to ‘health care’ providers that fail to protect life by providing abortions,’ Black said.” [LifeNews, 1/8/15; S. 51, 1/7/15]
Ted Cruz said Planned Parenthood was using “taxpayer funds to murder unborn children” and “profiting from the buying and selling of the body parts of babies.” “Last week, the Senate had an opportunity to stop the unconscionable use of taxpayer funds to murder unborn children. Instead, Republican leadership blocked a recorded vote on amendments to defund Planned Parenthood. […] ‘I encourage my colleagues to continue to fight to defund this organization that places more value on the sale price of babies’ body parts than it does on the sanctity of human life. We should not rest until we have done everything in our power to protect the life of unborn children. Ensuring no additional federal dollars go to the abortion industry or Planned Parenthood is a good place to start. This is why it is critical that we stand together to insist that not another dollar of our hard-earned money goes to a group profiting from the buying and selling of the body parts of babies.” [Senator Ted Cruz press release, 8/3/15]
Ted Cruz called Planned Parenthood an “ongoing criminal enterprise.” “‘These Planned Parenthood videos are horrifying,’ Cruz said. ‘Planned Parenthood also essentially confesses to multiple felonies…Absolutely we shouldn’t be sending $500 million of taxpayer money to funding an ongoing criminal enterprise, and I’ll tell you, the fact that Republican leadership in both houses has begun this discussion by preemptively surrendering to Barack Obama and saying, ‘We’ll give in because Obama threatens a veto.’ We need to stop surrendering and start standing for our principles.’” [Mother Jones, 9/16/15]
Ted Cruz said he would open an investigation into Planned Parenthood on his first day as president. “And the second thing I intend to do on my first day in office is instruct the Department of Justice to open an investigation into Planned Parenthood and these horrible videos. And to prosecute any and all criminal conduct by that organization.” [CSPAN, 9/29/15]
Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio did not support abortion exceptions for cases of rape or incest. “‘A rape is an act of violence. It’s a horrifying thing that happens. And fortunately, the number of abortions in this country that are due to rape are very small, less than 1% of the cases in the world. But they happen. And they’re horrifying. And they’re tragic. And I recognize that,’ Rubio said. […] ‘That being said, I personally and deeply believe that all human life is worthy of the protection of our laws. I do. And I believe that irrespective of the conditions by which that life was conceived or anything else.’” [CNN, 8/9/15]
Marco Rubio: “I have never advocated for” abortion exceptions in cases of rape or incest. “During the debate, Rubio objected to Fox News moderator Megyn Kelly’s question about how he squares his support for abortion exceptions with his Catholic faith. ‘I’m not sure that’s a correct assessment of my record,’ Rubio said. ‘You don’t favor a rape and incest exception?’ Kelly asked. ‘I have never said that. And I have never advocated that,’ Rubio said. “What I have advocated is that we pass a law in this country that says all life at every stage of development is worthy of protection.’” [Los Angeles Times, 8/7/15]
Marco Rubio supported bills that would ban abortions after 20 weeks after conception. “The Weekly Standard reported three weeks ago that Rubio agreed to shepherd the bill, and Rubio attributed delays to anti-abortion senators’ attempt to identify which clause of the Constitution would allow lawmakers to implement a 20-week abortion ban nationwide. Rubio and 27 other Republican senators signed onto a bill from Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) in 2011 that would require lawmakers to point to which piece of the Constitution allows government expansion — and he said adherence to that idea is causing the slowdown, not cold feet. Rubio said ‘certainly’ the Constitution would allow a federal law banning abortions after 20 weeks — it’s just a question of which portion of the document. Rubio is also a co-sponsor of a bill from Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) that would ban abortions after 20 weeks in the District of Columbia, an issue he said that is more easily constitutionally settled given the District’s federal status.” [Politico, 7/24/13]
Marco Rubio said it was “settled science” that “human life begins at conception.” “Sick of taking flak for his climate-change denial, Senator Marco Rubio tried to change the topic (a classic crisis-management move) by accusing his critics of hypocrisy (another classic). It’s hypocritical, Mr. Rubio told Sean Hannity on Wednesday, for ‘all these people’ to ‘wag their finger’ at him about ‘science and settled science’ — because there’s another area of settled science they don’t like to discuss. ‘Let me give you a bit of settled science that they’ll never admit to. The science is settled, it’s not even a consensus, it is a unanimity, that human life begins at conception. So I hope the next time someone wags their finger about science, they’ll ask one of these leaders on the left: ‘Do you agree with the consensus of scientists that say that human life begins at conception?’ I’d like to see someone ask that question.’” [NY Times, 3/15/14]
Marco Rubio compared abortion to the mass murder at an Oregon community college. “‘Again, terrible tragedy what happened in Oregon, but you’re right, every single year unborn in this country are killed legally, through laws that allow that to happen,’ Rubio said when radio host Glenn Beck asked him to respond to Hillary Clinton’s comments on the Oregon shooting, which Beck used to pivot to the issue of abortion. ‘Look, I recognize this is tough issue and I actually do believe that a woman has a right to choose with her body,’ he added. ‘The problem is that when there’s a pregnancy, there’s another life involved and that life has a right to live. And so, as policymakers we have to choose between two competing rights, and I’ve chosen as a matter of principle to choose life in that debate.’” [Buzzfeed, 10/8/15]
Marco Rubio supported forcing victims of rape to carry their attacker’s children to term. “Joe Scarborough said this morning that Rubio had not clarified whether he believes that abortion should be legal in cases where it is necessary to protect the mother’s life. I asked Rubio’s spokesman Alex Conant about this issue and he replied over e-mail: ‘Marco personally opposes abortion in all cases except life of the mother. Like all pro-life members of the Senate, he’s supported legislation that includes exceptions because he’ll support any legislation that reduces the number of abortions.’ In August, Rubio said that he believes that unborn children have a right to life that should be recognized ‘irrespective of the conditions by which that life was conceived.’” [National Review, 11/30/15]
Marco Rubio voted in favor of a failed measure to defund Planned Parenthood. “Sen. Marco Rubio stuck around Washington today to cast a vote to defund Planned Parenthood, a measure that failed to get 60 votes to advance. Rubio was scheduled to be in Manchester, N.H., for a candidate forum but did not want to miss the vote, which follows the release of covert videos about Planned Parenthood. Rubio will participate in the forum via video, as will Sens. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul.” [Tampa Bay Times, 8/3/15]
Marco Rubio voted to defund Planned Parenthood. “Rand Paul has previously voted to defund Planned Parenthood and said he would ‘stop the flow of tax dollars to groups who perform or advocate for abortion.’ Marco Rubio joined Paul in the vote to defund the health provider, and has made no secret of his plans to further restrict access.” [Salon, 2/27/15; Senate roll call vote 60, 4/14/11]
Marco Rubio said Planned Parenthood created an “incentive for people…to look forward to having more abortions [and] being able to sell that fetal tissue for purposes of making a profit.” RUBIO: “Now, what you have done is you have created an industry. Now, what you have done is you created an incentive for people to be pushed into abortions, so that those tissues can be harvested and sold for profit. I just think you have created an industry now where you create the situation where very much you created an incentive for people, not just to look forward to having more abortions but being able to sell that fetal tissue for purposes of making a profit off of it as you have seen in some of my Parenthood affiliates.” [KCCI, 9/21/15]
Marco Rubio said that defunding Planned Parenthood was “a human right issue.” “‘To me that’s not even a political issue, that’s a human rights issue,’ Rubio told anchor Bret Baier. He then elaborated further: ‘To me, the sanctity of life is a human right issue. I believe unborn children have rights. That someone, just because they haven’t been born and don’t have a birth certificate and haven’t yet been named, doesn’t mean they don’t have rights. Planned Parenthood is an organization that’s been caught repeatedly and now on video trafficking in fetal tissue of aborted children. It’s an outrageous practice.’ Rubio instead suggested taking the federal funds for Planned Parenthood and redistributing the funds to ‘federally qualified health centers’ because women’s health is still ‘important.’” [Talking Points Memo, 9/23/15]
Ben Carson
Ben Carson said he opposed abortion in all cases, including rape and incest. “The Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson said Sunday that he believed that abortion should be outlawed even in cases of rape and incest, comparing the procedure with slavery. ‘I would not be in favor of killing a baby because the baby came about in that way,’ Mr. Carson said on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press,’ citing ‘the many stories of people who have led very useful lives who were the result of rape or incest.’” [New York Times, 10/25/15]
Ben Carson compared abortion to slavery. “When it came to the rights of women, Carson insisted that they should not have the legal choice to terminate unwanted pregnancies. ‘Think about this. During slavery — and I know that one of those words you’re not supposed to say — but I’m saying it,’ Carson said. ‘During slavery, a lot of the slave owners thought they had the right to do whatever they wanted to that slave, anything that they chose to do. And what if the abolitionists had said, ‘You know, I don’t believe in slavery, I think it’s wrong. But you guys do whatever you want to do.’ Where would we be?’” [Raw Story, 10/25/15]
Ben Carson likened abortion to “human sacrifice.” “Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon-turned-conservative rock star — and an open follower of the Christian faith — likely ruffled liberal feathers with his most recent comment on abortion, during which he likened it to the biblical act of sacrificing humans. He made the remark during an appearance on the Christian broadcast outlet, DoveTV, after host Perry Atkinson suggested that America could receive great blessings from God by outlawing abortion. […] ‘It’s interesting,’ Mr. Carson said, Raw Story reported, ‘that we sit around and call other ancient civilizations ‘heathen’ because of human sacrifice, but aren’t we actually guilty of the same thing?’” [Washington Times, 7/2/14]
Ben Carson supported legislation that would ban abortion after 20 weeks. “Carson has, in fact, come out in support of a bill in Congress that would ban abortion at 20 weeks, and he has said that cases in which giving birth endangers the life of the mother are rare — but should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. But Watts reiterated that the legal realm is not Carson’s focus.” [Politico, 8/18/15]
Ben Carson supported defunding Planned Parenthood. “Congress must act NOW! Please sign my petition to Congress demanding that they stop all public funds to Planned Parenthood.” [BenCarson.com, accessed 8/5/15]
Ben Carson said that Planned Parenthood “not only makes money by selling baby parts, but doesn’t seem to understand the sanctity of human life, and is willing to destroy that.” TAPPER: “The argument is that none of the federal money pays for abortion, that is separate funding, and that by defunding Planned Parenthood, you would be eliminating all these other vital medical procedures, which you as a doctor know. I know you oppose legal abortion, but what’s your response to Ms. Laguens?” CARSON: “My response would be that all of the services that she mentioned are available through multiple other sources. And to take an organization that not only makes money by selling baby parts, but doesn’t seem to understand the sanctity of human life, and is willing to destroy that.” [CNN, 7/28/15]
- Carson: “Planned Parenthood and their enablers must be stopped from these barbaric practices.” “In an email to CNN, Dr. Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, called the video ‘shocking’ and Planned Parenthood’s behavior ‘sordid.’ ‘Planned Parenthood and their enablers must be stopped from these barbaric practices. I am urging Congress to eliminate every last dime of funding for Planned Parenthood,’ he said. ‘Finally, I ask where is the Department of Justice on this clear violation of Federal law?’” [CNN, 7/15/15]
Ben Carson claimed Planned Parenthood was “killing babies and taking the tissue.” “‘You have to look at the intent,’ Carson told The Washington Post before a campaign event in New Hampshire. ‘To willfully ignore evidence that you have for some ideological reason is wrong. If you’re killing babies and taking the tissue, that’s a very different thing than taking a dead specimen and keeping a record of it.’ Carson has blasted the use of fetal tissue by Planned Parenthood after anti-abortion groups released undercover videos claiming that workers received payment for the donated tissue and that some tissue was used without consent.” [The Hill, 8/13/15]
Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush: “I’m probably the most pro-life governor in modern times.” “Bush is regularly grouped with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former New York Governor George Pataki as the moderates in the GOP field. But on abortion, his record is at least as conservative as those of stalwart pro-life governors Mike Huckabee and Scott Walker, and perhaps even more so. As Bush himself once proudly proclaimed, ‘I’m probably the most pro-life governor in modern times.’” [Washington Examiner, 6/26/15]
As governor, Jeb Bush engaged in anti-choice activism that “shocked some state officials who believed he was reaching beyond the powers of his office.” “Jeb, meanwhile, declared in 2003 that he was ‘probably the most pro-life governor in modern times.’ As governor, Bush signed a law to create ‘Choose Life’ license plates in Florida, the proceeds from which flow to anti-abortion advocacy organizations. He also aggressively intervened in two high-profile cases to prevent a mentally disabled rape victim and a 13-year-old girl from being able to have abortions. In the former case, involving a 22-year-old rape victim who was both pregnant and developmentally disabled, Bush asked a court to appoint a guardian to represent the woman’s fetus. […] In 2005, Bush fought to prevent a pregnant 13-year-old girl, who was a ward of the state, from having an abortion. He was overruled by a judge, and CNN later reported that Bush’s ‘abortion activism shocked some state officials who believed he was reaching beyond the powers of his office.’” [Huffington Post, 3/25/15]
Jeb Bush: “I’m not sure we need half a billion dollars for women’s health issues.” “Bush said the argument against that effort would be that it’s a ‘war on women.’ ‘You could take dollar for dollar–although I’m not sure we need half a billion dollars for women’s health issues–but if you took dollar for dollar, there are many extraordinarily fine community health organizations that exist to provide quality care for women on a wide variety of health issues,’ he said.” [The Hill, 8/4/15]
Jeb Bush: Planned Parenthood was “not actually doing women’s health issues.” “After responding to a question from a woman who served in Operation Desert Storm about his commitment to ‘women’s health issues,’ Bush promised to fund health care programs for women in a more targeted way. ‘I don’t think Planned Parenthood should get a penny,’ he said. ‘They’re not actually doing women’s health issues. They’re involved in something way different than that.’” [Politico, 8/25/15]
Jeb Bush: “The next president should defund Planned Parenthood.” “GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush on Tuesday said the next president should defund Planned Parenthood. In an on-stage interview at the Southern Baptist Forum, Bush was asked if Republicans should make funding for Planned Parenthood an issue as more controversial videos exposing its practices are leaked. ‘We should, and the next president should defund Planned Parenthood,’ he said, adding that he defunded the non-profit when he served as governor of Florida.” [The Hill, 8/4/15]
Jeb Bush diverted funds from family planning services into abstinence-only education. “Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida lost $124,000 last year from its family planning division. Bush diverted the funds to abstinence-only educational programs. Now teens who use Planned Parenthood have a $15 co-pay and must pay $7 for birth control. ‘We do charge the teens now,’ said LaWanda Walker, public affairs coordinator for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. ‘That we really, really hate. You need to be able to have services and make it convenient.’” [St. Petersburg Times, 1/29/03]
Jeb Bush vetoed funding for family planning services provided to poor women through Planned Parenthood. According to the St. Petersburg Times, “Even the most powerful state lawmakers were hit by Gov. Jeb Bush’s vetoes on Friday. The Republican governor vetoed $ 290-million in the state budget that lawmakers passed this spring, including more than $ 25-million for projects in two counties – Manatee and Sarasota – represented by Senate President John McKay. […] The cuts also included $ 302,843 for family planning services provided to poor women through local Planned Parenthood affiliates, money that had been provided each year for more than a decade. The share earmarked for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, which includes the Tampa Bay area, was $ 125,800 for services for 1,258 women. The other regional affiliates affected by the cuts are based in Jacksonville and Naples. ‘Many of our patients have no health insurance nor are eligible for Medicaid. They absolutely depend on clinics like ours,’ said Barbara A. Zdravecky, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida.” [St. Petersburg Times, 6/16/01]
Jeb Bush said the Planned Parenthood videos were “shocking and horrific.” “This is a shocking and horrific reminder that we must do so much more to foster a culture of life in America:http://jeb.cm/1L7U80U” [@JebBush,7/14/15, 8:16 p.m. ET]
Chris Christie
Chris Christie had an “unprecedented anti-abortion position for a New Jersey governor.” According to the Record, “Ironically, Christie has staked an unprecedented antiabortion position for a New Jersey governor. He was the first governor to oppose abortion rights since the Supreme Court’s 1972 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing most abortions. In January 2011, Christie attended a State House rally on that decision’s anniversary, declaring ‘every life is precious and a gift from God.’ He also cut $7.5 million for family planning clinics, including some run by Planned Parenthood. These positions have never hurt Christie politically, but his critics have never attacked him in a concerted advertising blitz, either.” [The Record (NJ), 10/24/12]
Chris Christie endorsed a 20-week abortion ban. “New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Monday joined other potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates in endorsing a ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. ‘I am proud to be a pro-life Republican,’ Christie said in a statement to the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List, which solicited endorsements of the legislation from Republicans. ‘I believe that every life is an individual gift from God, and that no life is disposable.’ The 20-week ban would block abortions at least two weeks before the fetus is viable outside the womb. Such a restriction appears to defy the Supreme Court, which decided in Roe v. Wade in 1973 that women have a right to seek an abortion until the fetus is viable, at around 22 weeks to 24 weeks.” [Huffington Post, 3/30/15]
Chris Christie: “I vetoed Planned Parenthood funding five times out of the New Jersey budget.” “On the first day of this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference, right-wing attendees gathered to discuss how to get pro-life Republicans elected in blue states. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) was held up as a prime example — applause erupting to praise the potential presidential contender for vetoing funding for Planned Parenthood five times over the past five years. ‘I ran as a pro-life candidate in 2009 unapologetically, spoke at the rally on the steps of the statehouse. I was the first governor to ever speak at a pro-life rally on the steps of the statehouse in the state of New Jersey,’ Christie told the approving crowd. ‘And I vetoed Planned Parenthood funding five times out of the New Jersey budget.’” [Think Progress, 2/26/15]
- Chris Christie’s funding cuts for women’s health services caused 6 New Jersey clinics to close between 2010 and 2014.“Chris Christie, who last week prodded Republicans to drop anti-abortion rhetoric to appeal to more voters, has steadily weakened access to the procedure in New Jersey. Even with a Democratic-controlled legislature committed to reproductive rights, the second-term governor’s annual funding cuts for women’s health services have prompted at least six clinics to close since 2010, according to lawmakers.” [Bloomberg News, 7/28/14]
Chris Christie suggested that Planned Parenthood was performing “systematic murder of children in the womb to preserve their body parts in a way that maximizes their value for sale for profit.” “New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), Carly Fiorina and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) pointed to a series of heavily edited undercover videos released by an anti-abortion group that show Planned Parenthood officials discussing the donation of fetal tissue after abortions. Christie accused Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton of supporting the ‘the systematic murder of children in the womb to preserve their body parts in a way that maximizes their value for sale for profit.’” [Huffington Post, 9/16/15]
Chris Christie claimed Planned Parenthood was selling fetal body parts “on the open market.” “New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie released a video Tuesday morning attacking former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, asking, ‘do you support the conduct of Planned Parenthood in the killing of children in the womb in a way that maximizes their body parts for sale on the open market?’ The issue of funding Planned Parenthood has come to the fore after the release of videos alleging the nonprofit making money off the sale of fetal tissue. The Senate on Monday failed to pass legislation that would have barred federal funds for the group.” [MarketWatch, 8/4/15]
Chris Christie on Planned Parenthood: “I just don’t think that the organization has any business getting federal money.” “‘This is an awfully serious issue, they’re absolutely right,’ he said. ‘The American people should be sickened by what’s being talked about on there, the harvesting of body parts, I just think it’s sickening. That’s a life.’ Christie has vetoed funds for Planned Parenthood six different times in six years in New Jersey, and vowed to do the same if elected president. ‘I just don’t think that the organization has any business getting federal money,’ calling that decision an ‘easy call as president.’” [Breitbart, 7/30/15]
John Kasich
John Kasich signed into law a bill banning abortion after 20 weeks with no exceptions for rape or incest. “Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) signed a bill on Wednesday that bans abortions after 20 weeks if the fetus is determined to be viable, making Ohio the latest in a series of states to ban late-term abortions. The Ohio bill contains no exceptions for rape or incest and only a very narrow exception for health of the mother, which means that an Ohio physician must be able to prove in court that he performed a late-term abortion to save the woman’s life. If a doctor violates this rule, he could be arrested and lose his medical license.” [Huffington Post, 7/21/11]
John Kasich signed into law a bill that enacted strict abortion restrictions, including mandatory ultrasounds. “Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) signed stringent abortion restrictions into law as part of his state’s budget Sunday night, just days after Democratic Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis thrilled abortion rights groups nationwide with her successful filibuster against proposed anti-abortion regulations in her home state. The provisions in Ohio will make it more difficult for family planning groups to receive funding for preventive care; require ultrasounds for anyone seeking an abortion; and limit abortion providers’ ability to get transfer agreements with public hospitals.” [Washington Post, 7/1/13]
John Kasich said he would sign a bill that would ban abortion “if the reason for the procedure is because the child would have Down syndrome.” “Ohio Gov. John Kasich told CNN’s Jake Tapper on ‘State of the Union’ that he would sign a bill currently being debated in his state banning abortion if the reason for the procedure is because the child would have Down syndrome. ‘I would sign it, yes,’ Kasich said. ‘Look, I’m a governor. I’m a CEO. I have to have a hand steady on the wheel. But in this case, I’m more than glad to say that of course I would sign that.’ Kasich, who opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest or to preserve the life of the mother, previously had not commented on the bill, saying he didn’t want to express his opinion while it was being debated in Ohio’s statehouse.” [CNN, 9/19/15]
John Kasich: “Fight like crazy to defund Planned Parenthood.” “‘I’m for getting rid of all this Planned Parenthood funding and to be able to shift it to other kinds of family planning institutions. […] Fight like crazy to defund Planned Parenthood,’ he said, cautioning that it’s a separate issue from shutting down the government.” [Newsmax, 9/28/15]
John Kasich signed legislation essentially cutting off Planned Parenthood from $1.4 million in federal family-planning dollars. “In all, Kasich vetoed 22 items, including some earmarks. However, Ohio State University’s STAR House, which helps homeless youth, kept its $665,000 per year in funding. Significant abortion provisions in the budget were not changed. The bill essentially cuts off Planned Parenthood from about $1.4 million in federal family-planning dollars by re-prioritizing who can receive the money. Under the bill, abortion clinics must have a transfer agreement with a hospital, but they are prohibited from signing one with a public hospital. The bill also requires a doctor to perform an external ultrasound prior to an abortion to search for a heartbeat, and if one is found, the doctor must inform the woman. The doctor also must tell the woman the likelihood of the fetus surviving to a full term, and the bill redefines a fetus as ‘developing from the moment of conception,’ rather than when a fertilized egg has been implanted in the uterus.” [Columbus Dispatch, 7/1/13]