State of Rhode Island Archives: on Abortion

Mark Zaccaria: Make abortion unthinkable but not illegal

"No Federal Funding for Abortion" should also include Military Hospitals.

Mark Zaccaria: No federal funding for embryonic stem cell research

A: No.

Mark Zaccaria: Safe, legal, and rare: don't return to back alley abortions

A: "Safe, Legal--and Rare." A woman's access to basic medical care, more specifically the right to choose that care, has become one of the great political issues of the last 30 years. I believe that in its simplest form choice is a question between a woman and her doctor.

I believe many people understand that choosing to carry a pregnancy to term and offering a baby for adoption can be the correct choice. I believe that we also must understand that it is not always so. Many of us recall the back alleys of the 1960's. As a father of two daughters, I will not risk a return to those days of less than full and proper medical care for women.

Roe v. Wade is stare decisis: in plain English, settled law upon which future abortion decisions must be based. I will stand up to insure that all women regardless of race or class have full and unfettered access to the first rate medical care that all in America believe our citizens deserve.

Mark Zaccaria: Make adoption a more palatable choice

Lincoln Chafee: The real potential for cures is in the embryonic stem cells

CHAFEE: Every scientist is saying that the real potential is in the embryonic stem cells. That’s where the real potential is for the cures for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injuries, and cancer. If the US does not fund that research, it’s going to go elsewhere. Some other country is going to take advantage and be in the forefront of solving some of these diseases and curing some of these diseases. Many conservatives did vote for the stem cell bill. Laffey said he would vote against it, that’s hypocritical.

LAFFEY: It’s not hypocritical. I felt it was the wrong business lines. Senator Chafee mentioned one scientist. It’s not every scientist. It’s very few, quite frankly. In the end, the real progress will be made because the problem with embryonic stem cell research is the rejection rate that they’re finding tumors and all kinds of problems in animals and rats and they haven’t made it to humans yet and I don’t think they will.

Lincoln Chafee: Opposed the Alito nomination on 3 issues, not litmus test

Stephen Laffey: Very few scientists believe in embryonic stem cell research

CHAFEE: Every scientist is saying that the real potential is in the embryonic stem cells. That’s where the real potential is for the cures for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injuries, and cancer. If the US does not fund that research, it’s going to go elsewhere. Some other country is going to take advantage and be in the forefront of solving some of these diseases and curing some of these diseases. Many conservatives did vote for the stem cell bill. Laffey said he would vote against it, that’s hypocritical.

LAFFEY: It’s not hypocritical. I felt it was the wrong business lines. Senator Chafee mentioned one scientist. It’s not every scientist. It’s very few, quite frankly. In the end, the real progress will be made because the problem with embryonic stem cell research is the rejection rate that they’re finding tumors and all kinds of problems in animals and rats and they haven’t made it to humans yet and I don’t think they will.

Stephen Laffey: Don’t have any litmus tests for judges

Carl Sheeler: Roe v. Wade has been decided; keep abortion legal

Indicate which principles you support regarding abortion.
• Abortions should always be legal.
• Sheeler adds, “This is a moral issue that has become political & legislative with religious undertones. Roe v. Wade has decided. I would support the standing law.”