2008 Illinois Senate Debates: on Abortion


Dick Durbin: Abortion is a private decision

On social issues, Durbin, who once opposed abortion rights, defended his support for the procedure and called it a “private decision” that should be made by a woman, her doctor and her family. Sauerberg noted his opposition to abortion and said he and his family are actively involved in crisis pregnancy centers that provide women with an alternative.
Source: 2008 Illinois Senate Debate reported in the Chicago Tribune Oct 7, 2008

Steven Sauerberg: Provide women with an alternatives to abortion

On social issues, Durbin, who once opposed abortion rights, defended his support for the procedure and called it a “private decision” that should be made by a woman, her doctor and her family. Sauerberg noted his opposition to abortion and said he and his family are actively involved in crisis pregnancy centers that provide women with an alternative.
Source: 2008 Illinois Senate Debate reported in the Chicago Tribune Oct 7, 2008

Steven Sauerberg: I’m pro-baby, pro-mother and pro-family

Q: The one position no one seems to know is your position on abortion.

A: Actually, lots of people know.

Q: Okay, can we have your position in a sound byte?

A: If you want a sound byte, it’s ‘I’m pro-baby, pro-mother and pro-family.’ That’s the sound byte. My background is very simple: My wife and I have devoted thousands of dollars to CareNet crisis pregnancy center and others. My wife now raises funds for a number of different crisis pregnancy centers and organizations.

Source: 2008 Illinois Senate Debate: Illinois Review interview Jan 20, 2008

Steven Sauerberg: Born Alive Infant Protection Act is basic humanity

Q: Barack Obama is facing questions for his position while in the Illinois legislature as to his position on the Born Alive Infant Protection Act. Obama opposed it, as the state version included punishment for doctors who allowed babies born alive to die

A: I’ve delivered 500 babies and I cannot imagine a baby that had potential viability being abandoned. The concept would not have occurred to me, nor would it occur to many physicians, I can tell you that--it’s just basic humanity to me.

Source: 2008 Illinois Senate Debate: Illinois Review interview Jan 20, 2008

  • The above quotations are from 2008 Illinois Senate Debates: Steve Sauerberg vs. Dick Durbin.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Steven Sauerberg on Abortion.
  • Click here for more quotes by Dick Durbin on Abortion.
Candidates and political leaders on Abortion:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 01, 2018