Larry Hogan on Abortion Republican Maryland Governor; possible presidential contender

Vetoed allowing non-physicians to perform abortions

Summary by Maryland Matters: House Bill 937, titled the Abortion Care Access Act, will expand who can perform abortions in the state to include nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants. It will also provide $3.5 million in financial support to clinically train health care professionals to offer reproductive services.

Veto message : "House Bill 937 endangers the health and lives of women by allowing non-physicians to perform abortions. The bill risks lowering the high standard of reproductive health care services received by women in Maryland."

Legislative outcome: Vetoed by Governor Larry Hogan on Apr/8/2022; Veto Overridden by House 90-46-5 on Apr/9/2022; Veto Overridden by Senate 29-15-3 on Apr/9/2022.

Signed expansive birth control insurance bill

Hogan: Legal. Personally opposes abortion, but declares the subject settled & will not try to change Maryland's laws protecting woman's rights.

Jealous: Legal. "If we increase barriers to abortion & family planning services, women will see their health compromised, & all of our families will suffer."

Contraception: Employers can withhold contraceptive coverage if they disagree?

Hogan: No. Signed expansive birth control insurance bill.

Jealous: No. Criticizes Hogan for leaving out state employees in bill expanding insurance contraception coverage.

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

Hogan: Unclear. Allowed bill to protect Planned Parenthood health services to go into law without his signature.

Jealous: Yes. Supports Planned Parenthood. Include women's health services as part of Medicare for All.

1980: Bar all abortions in county hospitals

• In 1980, as an aide to his father who was Prince George's County Executive, it was Hogan's idea for the county administration to issue an executive order barring all abortions in county hospitals, except those where the life of the mother was at risk--even banning abortions in the cases of pregnancies resulting from rape or incest
• Hogan has also supported requiring 24-hour waiting periods for women seeking an abortion, mandatory lectures from doctors on alternatives to an abortion, and parental permission for minors to receive an abortion
• Hogan supported a "Human Life Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution that would ban abortion across the country, even in cases of rape and incest
• In a 1992 voter guide, Hogan stated he supported requiring parental notification for a minor seeking an abortion, and 24-hour waiting periods after an initial consultation with a doctor.

1980s: ban abortions; 1992: don't overturn pro-choice laws

The Democrats' attack ads are based on Hogan comments from 1980 and 1981 in which he supported a ban on abortions except to save the life of the mother, as well as a "human life amendment" that would have barred abortions while possibly outlawing some forms of birth control. By 1992, Hogan had modified those positions and said abortion should remain legal.

Today Hogan says that he is still personally opposed to abortion, but he pledges he will not try to change Maryland's laws protecting women's rights to the procedure nor to limit access to contraception.

Brown's campaign manager contended , "Hogan just can't be trusted on women's health issues."

Personally opposed but no effect since it's legally settled

Hogan said he personally opposes abortion, but since the matter has been legally settled in Maryland, he will not, as governor, try to roll back the law. "Anthony Brown is running an ad that says that I oppose a women's right to choose, even in the case of rape and incest. That is an absolute lie. It's not my position now, and it's never been my position my entire life. Here are the facts. The facts are nothing will change on abortion with me as governor," Hogan said. "For him to try to scare women by misrepresenting and blatantly lying about me and my position is disgraceful."