George Pataki on Abortion

	George Pataki on Abortion Republican NY Governor

Claims he can overcome GOP objection to pro-abortion stance

He’s out of step with most Republicans on the issue of abortion but pro-abortion New York Gov. George Pataki said on Monday he would make a decision about whether he will run for president in 2008 “in the next few weeks.” In comments on the CNN television program “Situation Room,” Pataki claimed he could overcome objection to his pro-abortion stance that prevent previous GOP presidential candidates like Arlen Specter and Pete Wilson from gaining any traction. Source: Steven Ertelt in LifeNews.com , Dec 5, 2006

Favors abortion rights

Pataki faces major hurdles in Iowa and elsewhere. He is leaving office with less-than-stellar poll numbers and his successor is almost certain to be a Democrat -- not exactly the ideal springboard for a national campaign. Pataki also favors abortion rights, a major strike against him with the social conservatives who traditionally play an outsized role in the Iowa caucuses. Still, The Fix believes that hard work in politics often pays off. And Pataki is working Iowa as hard as anyone at the moment. Source: Chris Cillizza opinion in Washington Post , Jun 15, 2006

Vetoes non-prescription morning-after pill

New York’s Gov. George Pataki confirms he will veto a bill that would make the so-called “morning-after” pill available without a prescription. Abortion-rights advocates in the state are hoping to pressure him into signing the legislation. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney recently vetoed similar legislation; both men are eyeing possible presidential runs in 2008. Source: Margot Adler on NPR’s All Things Considered , Aug 1, 2005

Supports banning partial birth abortions

Pataki slashed family planning funding in both of his proposed executive state budgets.
Pataki said he will sign a parental notification bill.
In the spring of 1996, Pataki said he would sign a law making it a Class E felony for doctors to perform certain abortions (called “partial birth abortions”), even if the bill provided no exceptions to avert serious health damage to the woman. This is identical to the law that Pres. Clinton vetoed.

Source: ChoiceMatters.com 2006 report on voting record , May 2, 1996

Voted in NY legislature to cut off Medicaid abortion funding

Pataki voted to cut off Medicaid funding of abortion ten times; that is, every year that he served in the state legislature, from 1985 through 1994, his most recent vote was June 6, 1994.
Pataki always supported mandatory parental involvement before a minor can have an abortion.
Pataki opposed the Health Care Facilities Access Bill, which would increase penalties for intentionally blocking medical facilities.
Pataki first described himself as “pro-choice” in February 1990, when he chaired the NYS Republican Party’s platform committee. He admitted that he wanted to keep an anti-abortion plank out of the platform in order to keep women’s votes from going to pro-choice Gov. Cuomo.
In March 1990, Pataki accepted the religious-right group New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms’ “Life Saver” award for refusing to vote “yes” on the state budget if it contained money for abortions.

Source: ChoiceMatters.com 2006 report on voting record , Jun 6, 1994

Supported by right-to-life groups in 1990s elections

On May 11, 1990, Pataki was praised on a fundamentalist religious radio program on WHUD-WLNA for reaffirming that he is “pro-life” (against abortion rights).
In its 1992 voter guide, Westchester RTL (Right to Life) PAC stated, “George Pataki claims to be pro-choice. He has a pro-life voting record. Still favors Parental Notification and is opposed to Medicaid funding.” RTL reported that Pataki sought its “behind the scenes help” in the 1992 campaign at the same time he campaigned as pro-choice in the Republican primary and in the general election, in which both opponents were truly pro-choice.
In 1993, Pataki was the only Republican state senator to receive a 100% rating from the NYS Christian Coalition. He received an award for a 100% rating on his voting record from New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms. These two organizations are on the front lines of the anti-choice movement in New York State.

Source: ChoiceMatters.com 2006 report on voting record , May 11, 1990

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