George Pataki on Abortion Republican NY Governor

Appalled by abortion, but stop trying to overturn Roe v.Wade

PATAKI: Yes.

Q: Has this story changed your heart when it comes to abortion?

PATAKI: My heart has not changed, because I've always been appalled by abortion. I'm a Catholic, I believe life begins at conception. But Roe v. Wade, it's has been the law for 42 years, and I don't think we should continue to try to change it. But we can do is defund Planned Parenthood, and by the way, put in place an absolute permanent ban on any taxpayer dollars ever being used to fund abortions. Also, when you look at these videos, they are horrific and show just a hideous disrespect for life.

Pro-choice, but ban abortion after 20 weeks

PATAKI: We should believe in science. Hillary Clinton's always saying how Republicans don't follow science. Well, they're the ones not listening to the scientists today, because doctors say that at 20 weeks that is a viable life inside the womb. And at that point, it's a life that we have the right to protect, and I think we should protect. So, I would pass legislation outlawing abortion after 20 weeks. It is Hillary, it is Biden, it is the others who insist on allowing abortion well into viability [who are] wrong, and that should be stopped.

I'm pro-choice, with limitations

Claims he can overcome GOP objection to pro-abortion stance

Favors abortion rights

Vetoes non-prescription morning-after pill

Supports banning partial birth abortions

As Governor of New York...
• 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.

Voted in NY legislature to cut off Medicaid abortion funding

As a 10-term New York State legislator...
• 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.

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

As a 10-term New York State legislator...
• 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.