PBS News Hour: on Abortion
Chris Christie:
Ban abortions after 20 weeks, with exceptions
Self-described as "pro-life," Christie supports a Congressional bill to ban abortions starting 20 weeks after fertility, allowing for exceptions if the pregnancy is caused by rape or incest or if the life of the mother is in danger.
Prior to 1995, the governor described his position as "pro-choice." Christie says he changed position after hearing his daughter's fetal heartbeat.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Jun 30, 2015
Bobby Jindal:
Abortionists need admitting privileges at nearby hospital
Jindal supports the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act," which would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions for rape, incest or life of the mother. In 2014, he signed a law that required all Louisiana physicians who perform
abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital at least 30 miles away. The law effectively forced the closure of three of the state's five abortion clinics. Earlier this year, his administration denied Planned Parenthood an operating license in
New Orleans. On gay marriage, Jindal wrote a New York Times op-ed saying he would "hold firm" against same-sex unions. He told CNN's "New Day" that should the Supreme Court overturn same-sex marriage bans,
Congress and the states should pass a Constitutional Amendment restoring them. In the wake of Indiana's religious liberty bill earlier this year, Jindal passed an executive order allowing businesses to refuse services related to same-sex marriage.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Jun 24, 2015
Donald Trump:
Ban late abortions; exceptions for rape, incest or health
What does Donald Trump believe? Social Issues: Abortion should be limited.Describing himself as "pro-life," Trump told Bloomberg News in January that he believes abortion should be banned at some point in pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest
or life of the mother. In 2011 he explained to the Christian Broadcasting Network that he had changed his mind on the issue. In "The America We Deserve," Trump then wrote that he supported a woman's right to choose.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Jun 16, 2015
Rick Perry:
Require hearing fetal heartbeat & one-day waiting period
Where Rick Perry stands on key issues: Abortion:- Ban abortion after 20 weeks, with an exception for life of the mother.
- Require sonograms before allowing abortion.
As governor, Perry signed a Texas law banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, allowing exceptions to protect the life of the mother or if the fetus suffers from a "severe abnormality."
The conservative politician believes life begins at conception and has said that he would ban all abortions, except in cases where the mother's life is in danger. He has supported tougher restrictions on abortion clinics and a
Texas law requiring that women see a sonogram, hear the fetus' heartbeat and wait a day before they can obtain an abortion.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Jun 3, 2015
Lindsey Graham:
Pro-life, with exceptions for rape, incest, & maternal life
Graham would ban most abortions at 20 weeks. Graham defines himself as "pro-life" on abortion and sponsored a
Senate bill to ban abortions 20 weeks after fertilization. He would make exceptions for cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Jun 1, 2015
Martin O`Malley:
Abortions should be legal, without government restriction
On social issues, O'Malley would allow access to abortion. O'Malley has described his view on abortion as "pro choice". Aides have said he supported a 1992 Maryland referendum which
stated that abortions should be legal, without government restriction, until the time in pregnancy when a fetus can survive outside the womb.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
May 30, 2015
George Pataki:
I'm pro-choice, with limitations
Pataki would block late-term abortions and government funding of abortions but otherwise do not tightly restrict access. Defining himself as "pro-choice", the New York Republican has spoken out against
late term abortions and voted against government-funded abortions as a state legislator, but he otherwise opposes restrictions on abortion access for women.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
May 28, 2015
Mike Huckabee:
As president, would push for the repeal of Roe v. Wade
Huckabee would turn to the Constitution on abortion, proposing an amendment to ban abortion, with an exception for the life of the mother.
As president, he also would push for the repeal of Roe v. Wade.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
May 5, 2015
Carly Fiorina:
Ban abortions 20 weeks after fertilization
Fiorina supports the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which bans abortions 20 weeks after fertilization, except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother.
In the past she has said that, if given the opportunity, she would vote to overturn Roe v Wade.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
May 4, 2015
Ben Carson:
Ban abortion more than 20 weeks after fertilization
On his website, Carson supports the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act which would make it illegal to have an abortion more than 20 weeks after fertilization, allowing exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother.
It is not clear if he would push to overturn or uphold Roe v Wade.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
May 3, 2015
Marco Rubio:
Ban abortion after 20 weeks
Rubio would ban abortion after 20 weeks. Rubio co-sponsored a 2013
Senate bill to ban abortion after 20 weeks since fertilization, making exceptions for the life of the mother, rape or incest.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Apr 13, 2015
Ted Cruz:
Ban taxpayer funding of abortion & partial birth abortion
On abortion, Cruz has called the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalizing the procedure a "dark anniversary" but has not said whether he would specifically work to overturn it.
Cruz has staunchly supported bans on any taxpayer funding of abortion and bans of so-called partial birth abortion.
He has fervently supported a Texas law that would require doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, a requirement that could limit staffing at abortion facilities.
That Texas law was ruled unconstitutional by a lower court and is now before the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Mar 23, 2015
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2018