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Tom Wolf on Abortion

 

 


Government should not tell women what choices to make

Whether standing up for women's reproductive rights, supporting women-owned businesses, or fighting for a strong public school system and access to affordable health care, Tom Wolf has always been a strong advocate on issues important to women and their families.

Tom Wolf is proud to stand with women in Pennsylvania who are fighting backwards legislation signed into law by Governor Corbett that restricts a woman's right to make her own personal health care decisions.

As governor, Tom will work every day to protect fundamental rights, and make sure that women and their families have access to safe, affordable, and high-quality health care options.

It's not fair for the government to try to tell a woman what health care choices she can make. Tom supports a woman's right to choose.

Source: 2014 Gubernatorial campaign website, WolfForPA.com, "Plan" , Mar 3, 2014

Support abortion rights

All four Democratic candidates support abortion rights. McGinty says she would oppose any effort to further restrict abortion rights.
Source: The Patriot News on 2014 Pennsylvania governor debate , May 10, 2014

Tradition of freedom of conscience includes abortion rights

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania passed one of the nation's most restrictive anti-abortion bills this month, banning most abortions after 20 weeks and criminalizing a medically accepted method of terminating a pregnancy.

Gov. Tom Wolf has repeatedly pledged to veto the legislation as soon as it reaches his desk. Wolf has taken a personal role in advocating against the legislation, holding events with activists, doctors & women who had late-term abortions that would be restricted if the bill becomes law.

Wolf thinks the bill goes against the state's values. "We were founded by William Penn, on the basis of freedom of conscience. We attracted people from all over the world, based on the idea that they could make their own, most personal decisions. Making sure that women continue to have the right to make their own decisions, I think, is right in line with that tradition," Wolf said. "

Legislative outcome: HB77 passed Senate, 32-18-0 on Feb. 8

Source: Huffington Post on Pennsylvania voting records, SB3/HB77 , Mar 3, 2017

Vetoed bill to ban abortion after 20 weeks

Q: Abortion: Mostly ban or mostly legal?

Scott Wagner (R): Ban. Co-sponsor of bill to ban after 20 weeks, with exceptions only to save life of mother, not for rape or incest.

Tom Wolf (D): Legal. Vetoed post-20-week ban. Make sure "that women continue to have the right to make their own decisions."

Q: Can employers withhold contraceptive coverage if disagree with it?

Wagner: No public statement found.

Wolf: No. Supports state law requiring employers to cover birth control at no cost.

Q: Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion health care?

Scott Wagner (R): No. Co-sponsored bill to defund.

Tom Wolf (D): Yes.

Source: CampusElect 2018: Pennsylvania legislative voting records , Oct 9, 2018

Vetoes further limits on dilation and evacuation abortions

A controversial bill that would limit abortion passed out of state Senate committee after a frequently emotional meeting in which critics decried it as a blatant attempt to diminish women's reproductive rights.

In a 10-5 vote along party lines, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 3 and sent it to the Senate floor for consideration. Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to veto the legislation if it comes to his desk.

Supporters say that SB3 would "better align the law with modern medicine by moving restrictions on most abortions back from six months set in 1992 to five months."

The bill would curtail dilation and evacuation abortions--in which instruments are used to remove the fetus sometimes pulling off limbs and appendages. However, the bill does not refer to dilation and evacuation, but to "dismemberment abortion," a term popularized by anti-abortion advocates, but not recognized by the medical community.

Source: Ellwood City Ledger on Pennsylvania voting record SB-3 , Feb 6, 2017

Opposed ban on abortions linked to disabilities

HB321: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes & Offenses) of the Consolidated Statutes, in abortion.

Planned Parenthood Action case for voting NO:"The passage of HB 321 in the PA House of Representatives follows a scary trend of bills like this around the country. It is an unconstitutional abortion ban that shows the hypocrisy of those who support it. This bill pretends to help those with disabilities and their families while doing nothing to provide actual services and resources."

Governor's Veto Message: This legislation is a restriction on women and medical professionals and interferes with women's health care and the crucial decision-making between patients and their physicians. Further, I am not aware of a single disability rights group that supports this bill.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 117-76-9 on May/14/19; Passed Senate 27-22-0 on Nov/20/19; Vetoed by Governor Tom Wolf on Nov/21/19

Source: Planned Parenthood on Pennsylvania voting records HB321 , Nov 21, 2019

Other governors on Abortion: Tom Wolf on other issues:
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