Said Beshear, "I have consistently stood up to Matt Bevin when he has tried to undermine and attack women's rights. Others may say they are pro-choice, but I am the only candidate in this race who has done more than just talk when it comes to a woman's right to choose."
Beshear earned the endorsement over former state auditor Adam Edelen, who has said abortion rights are vital in order to ensure equality for women, and House Minority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins, who voted for several anti-abortion bills this year.
"Kentucky women and families deserve someone who will fight for them as governor, and Andy Beshear has always been there to defend Kentuckians' rights and freedoms," said the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. "Kentucky is one of several states that passed an extreme ban on abortion this year, criminalizing abortion before many women even know they're pregnant, in large part due to anti-choice governor Matt Bevin."
Beshear's running mate for lieutenant governor, Jacqueline Coleman, says she now supports abortion rights but ran in 2014 as a "pro-life Democrat."
But Beshear has also defended a law passed in 2017 that requires doctors to perform an ultrasound and describe the results of that procedure to a woman seeking an abortion. He said he has an obligation at attorney general to defend state laws if their constitutionality is unclear. "It is also my duty to defend laws where the constitutionality is questionable and finality is needed," Beshear said at the time. "Adhering to these duties is why, after close review, my agencies will defend the agencies sued over HB 2 that seek our representation." A federal court recently upheld the law.
An ACLU lawsuit attempted to prevent the Bevin administration from shutting down Kentucky's only abortion clinic after the state moved to enforce regulations requiring the clinic to have mandatory patient transfer agreements with an ambulance service and hospital.
Bevin has called himself "the most pro-life governor in America." In his State of the Commonwealth Address earlier this year, Bevin said he is proud to live in an anti-abortion rights state.
"I am so proud and so grateful to be a governor in a state where these chambers, an overwhelming majority, 80 plus percent of bipartisan support are strongly pro-life," Bevin said. "How awesome that in Kentucky, we value life."
Said Beshear, "I have consistently stood up to Matt Bevin when he has tried to undermine and attack women's rights. Others may say they are pro-choice, but I am the only candidate in this race who has done more than just talk when it comes to a woman's right to choose."
Beshear earned the endorsement over former state auditor Adam Edelen, who has said abortion rights are vital in order to ensure equality for women, and House Minority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins, who voted for several anti-abortion bills this year.
A: A modern Kentucky must recognize women's full equality, and that equality must include the right to make their own reproductive health care decisions. Ours is the only campaign that has never wavered on a woman's right to make her own health care decisions, and neither Gill nor I have ever run on a platform based on limiting those rights.
A: Yes, I'm pro-choice and I support Roe v. Wade. I have consistently taken action to stand up to the legislature and Matt Bevin when they have pushed to undermine women's reproductive freedom. I think the parameters set forth in Roe v. Wade have the balance about right and I would not support changes to them. As governor I would move to codify Roe v. Wade into state law if the Supreme Court overturned the decision.
A: I am the father of four children--triplets, and an older son. I am the legal guardian of my younger brother who has special needs. When I think of their lives--lives that mean everything to me, potentially being not lived--a passion is ignited within me to do everything I can to protect life. I was raised in soul-crushing poverty by a single mom who constantly struggled financially. It would have been very easy for her to have chosen the Planned Parenthood path to have an abortion, and I could have never been born. This issue is very personal for me. I introduced the first version of the fetal heartbeat bill, and was proud to vote for the Senate version that ultimately passed. I will do everything in my power as governor to protect life in Kentucky.
A: Rocky is pro-life, but his primary focus is on giving every Kentucky child the opportunity to go to a good school, have a roof over their head, and get the education and training they need to have a successful career. He will follow the law of the land when it comes to legislation around this, and any other issue.
Analysis by ACLU / Associated Press: In asking a judge to block the new Kentucky law, the ACLU argued that it removes a woman's right to an abortion if the state "disapproves of her reason" for the procedure. The suit was filed on behalf of EMW Women's Surgical Center in Louisville, the only abortion clinic in Kentucky. The ACLU's challenge is part of a broader lawsuit also challenging another new Kentucky law that would mostly ban abortions in the state once a fetal heartbeat is detected--as early as six weeks into pregnancy. ACLU attorneys said the heartbeat bill would prohibit 90% of abortions in Kentucky.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 67-25-8 on Feb/26/19; Passed Senate 32-4-1 on Mar/13/19; Signed by Governor Matt Bevin on Mar/19/19.
Analysis by ACLU / Associated Press: In asking a judge to block the new Kentucky law, the ACLU argued that it removes a woman's right to an abortion if the state "disapproves of her reason" for the procedure. The suit was filed on behalf of EMW Women's Surgical Center in Louisville, the only abortion clinic in Kentucky. The ACLU's challenge is part of a broader lawsuit also challenging another new Kentucky law that would mostly ban abortions in the state once a fetal heartbeat is detected--as early as six weeks into pregnancy. ACLU attorneys said the heartbeat bill would prohibit 90% of abortions in Kentucky.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 67-25-8 on Feb/26/19; Passed Senate 32-4-1 on Mar/13/19; Signed by Governor Matt Bevin on Mar/19/19.
Analysis by ACLU / Associated Press: In asking a judge to block the new Kentucky law, the ACLU argued that it removes a woman's right to an abortion if the state "disapproves of her reason" for the procedure. The suit was filed on behalf of EMW Women's Surgical Center in Louisville, the only abortion clinic in Kentucky. The ACLU's challenge is part of a broader lawsuit also challenging another new Kentucky law that would mostly ban abortions in the state once a fetal heartbeat is detected--as early as six weeks into pregnancy. ACLU attorneys said the heartbeat bill would prohibit 90% of abortions in Kentucky.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 67-25-8 on Feb/26/19; State Rep. Charles Booker voted NO; Passed Senate 32-4-1 on Mar/13/19; Signed by Governor Matt Bevin on Mar/19/19.
Analysis by ACLU / Associated Press: In asking a judge to block the new Kentucky law, the ACLU argued that it removes a woman's right to an abortion if the state "disapproves of her reason" for the procedure. The suit was filed on behalf of EMW Women's Surgical Center in Louisville, the only abortion clinic in Kentucky. The ACLU's challenge is part of a broader lawsuit also challenging another new Kentucky law that would mostly ban abortions in the state once a fetal heartbeat is detected--as early as six weeks into pregnancy. ACLU attorneys said the heartbeat bill would prohibit 90% of abortions in Kentucky.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 67-25-8 on Feb/26/19; State Rep. Robert Goforth voted YES; Passed Senate 32-4-1 on Mar/13/19; Signed by Governor Matt Bevin on Mar/19/19.
Analysis by ACLU / Associated Press: In asking a judge to block the new Kentucky law, the ACLU argued that it removes a woman's right to an abortion if the state "disapproves of her reason" for the procedure. The suit was filed on behalf of EMW Women's Surgical Center in Louisville, the only abortion clinic in Kentucky. The ACLU's challenge is part of a broader lawsuit also challenging another new Kentucky law that would mostly ban abortions in the state once a fetal heartbeat is detected--as early as six weeks into pregnancy. ACLU attorneys said the heartbeat bill would prohibit 90% of abortions in Kentucky.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 67-25-8 on Feb/26/19; Kentucky House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins voted NO; Passed Senate 32-4-1 on Mar/13/19; Signed by Governor Matt Bevin on Mar/19/19.
The ACLU and other lawyers are seeking $1.5 million in legal fees and other costs they incurred representing EMW Women's Surgical Center and Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky in a successful challenge to a state law the administration of Gov. Matt Bevin used to try to close EMW, the state's only abortion provider.
A judge who ruled in favor of EMW and Planned Parenthood is reviewing the request. Enforcement of the law has been suspended while the court challenge is pending. About 3,200 abortions are performed each year at the EMW clinic in Louisville. Most occur early in pregnancy, prior to 14 weeks, and involve a non-surgical method in which a patient terminates a pregnancy by taking pills or undergoes a procedure in which suction is used to remove contents of the uterus.
Rep. Robert Goforth, a Laurel County Republican, has filed House Bill 100, a bill similar to Senate Bill 9. Goforth said he doesn't view his bill as a ban on abortion. "I think it's making people be more responsible," he said. "If they're going to engage in activity that's going to end up in conception, they just need to be more responsible with their actions." And he said he would be pleased if Kentucky or one of the other states considering similar measures enacted such a law and, in the event of court challenge, took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to overturn Roe v. Wade.
"I'm one-hundred percent pro-choice. I align with everything Emily's List aligns with," she told me. [But] "I don't want to be tied to a litmus test," McGrath said. "I don't want to be tied to any national interest like that, where people can say, you're just a puppet."
Comer: NEVER, unless it would somehow prevent the death of the mother.
A: Pro-life.
Q: Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
A: Yes.
Q: Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
A: Yes. Not after the first trimester though.
Q: Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
A: Yes.
The two statements were her first substantive comments on policy matters. Until now she has spent most of her time attacking McConnell as the embodiment of all that is corrupt and unproductive about Washington.
Grimes is one of five daughters in a devout Catholic family in Lexington. "I am a practicing Catholic," she told me. "But I'm also for separation of church and state. I am supportive of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. And I think that this is the kind of choice that has to be up to the woman, her God and her doctor."
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| 2020 Presidential contenders on Abortion: | |||
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Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO) V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE) Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC) Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT) Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ) Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX) Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI) Rep.John Delaney (D-MD) Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA) Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT) CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA) Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Marianne Williamson (D-CA) CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY) 2020 Third Party Candidates: Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI) CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV) Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI) Howie Hawkins (G-NY) Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) |
Republicans running for President:
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN) Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY) Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL) Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY) 2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates: Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA) Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC) Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK) Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA) Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO) Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA) Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL) Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA) Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX) Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA) Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA) Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA) | ||
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