2016 VT Governor's race: on Abortion

Bruce Lisman: Supports abortion rights and funding for Planned Parenthood

Vermont Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Lisman has announced he'll support Ohio Gov. John Kasich for president. "I'm supporting Governor John Kasich because he is a competent manager who has helped to revitalize his state's economy, while bringing both Democrats and Republicans together," Lisman said in a statement.

The Vermont Democratic Party jumped on the news with a statement that pointed out Kasich had signed a bill to block Ohio state funds from going to Planned Parenthood. That means Lisman and Kasich may differ on at least one issue: The Barre-Montpelier Times Argus reported in October that Lisman supports abortion rights and funding for Planned Parenthood.

Source: Burlington Free Press on 2016 Vermont Gubernatorial race Feb 29, 2016

Phil Scott: Abortion isn't a black-and-white issue, but I'm pro-choice

I consider myself "pro-choice, but with restrictions." I do not see abortion issues as simple black-and-white decisions, however, and I'm sure that most women who have ever considered having an abortion themselves feel the same way. Because of my beliefs, I find it impossible to answer the questions in [the Planned Parenthood] survey with a simple "yes" or "no."

But I do want to let people know how I tend to approach these issues. I believe that family planning services are an essential part of our health care system. In our current economic situation, systemwide reductions in health care spending may be necessary to balance budgets, but I would not support cuts directed at family planning services.

I do support a woman's right to choose; however, I do not believe it needs to be a "blank check" in order to be effective. I do not support partial-birth abortion, because I believe there are many options available to terminate a pregnancy well before that stage of development.

Source: Planned Parenthood survey on 2016 Vermont gubernatorial race Mar 15, 2012

Phil Scott: No taxpayer funding for abortion; but ok for family planning

I am very aware that not all Vermonters share my pro-choice views; therefore, I do not believe that abortions should be funded with taxpayer dollars. Just as important as protecting a woman's right to choose, is respecting others" right to oppose abortion for religious or personal reasons. Using public funds to support something that many people strongly disagree with is not an appropriate public policy. But I would not support cuts directed specifically and only at family planning services. Source: Planned Parenthood survey on 2016 Vermont gubernatorial race Mar 15, 2012

The above quotations are from 2016 Vermont Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage. Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion. Click here for other issues (main summary page).
*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 09, 2018