State of Massachusetts Archives: on Abortion

Ayanna Pressley: Abortion is a woman's right

Ed Markey: Endorsed by Planned Parenthood; supports abortion rights

"You saw someone representing the oldest Republican ideas," Markey said in a scrum with reporters after the debate. "He obviously does not believe that a woman should have a right to choose." Gomez noted that he would not change any laws on the issue. "I couldn't be more clear: I'm not changing any law on abortion," he said to reporters after the debate.

During the forum, Markey noted that Planned Parenthood has endorsed him and emphasized

Ed Markey: Litmus test for Supreme Court nominees on abortion

Markey described himself as pro-choice: "I think the decision should be between the woman and her physician. That's it. The woman makes the decision, not some law that's imposed by politicians," he said.

Gomez also said he could vote for a Supreme Court nominee who is opposed to abortion. "If the judge comes in front of me and they follow the constitution and they're ethical and they're pro-choice and they've done a good job. I'll vote for them. If they're pro-life, I'll vote for them," he said. "There should be no litmus test."

Markey said there should be a litmus test when it comes to abortion. "I have a litmus test. I would not vote for a Supreme Court justice who would overturn Roe v. Wade," he said.

Gabriel Gomez: I'm personally prolife but I'm not changing any abortion law

The debate ended with a robust exchange about abortion. "I'm Catholic and I'm personally prolife," Gomez said, noting though that he would not change any laws on the issue. "I couldn't be more clear: I'm not changing any law on abortion," he said to reporters after the debate.

During the forum, Markey noted that Planned Parenthood has endorsed him a

Gabriel Gomez: 24-hour waiting period for a woman to get an abortion

Markey described himself as pro-choice: "I think the decision should be between the woman and her physician. That's it. The woman makes the decision, not some law that's imposed by politicians," he said.

Gomez also said he could vote for a Supreme Court nominee who is opposed to abortion. "If the judge comes in front of me and they follow the constitution and they're ethical and they're pro-choice and they've done a good job. I'll vote for them. If they're pro-life, I'll vote for them," he said. "There should be no litmus test."

Markey said there should be a litmus test when it comes to abortion.

Steve Lynch: Protect Roe v. Wade; it keeps abortion in clinical setting

Markey said his history of voting for women's rights as well as his endorsement by Planned Parenthood represents his pro-choice beliefs.

Steve Lynch: Opposes abortion funding but funded Planned Parenthood

But Markey, who has the endorsement of Planned Parenthood, did not push back when Lynch touted his defense of funding for Planned Parenthood on the House floor.

Martha Coakley: AdWatch: Brown denied contraception to rape victims

Narrator: "Who is Scott Brown, really? A Republican. In lockstep with Washington Republicans. He'll block tougher oversight of Wall Street. Give more tax breaks to the wealthiest. Oppose new prescription coverage for millions of seniors. Brown even favors letting hospitals deny emergency contraception to rape victims. He lacks understanding and seriousness. In times like these, we can't afford a Republican like Scott Brown."

The ad is basically on track, factually, until we come to a claim that "Brown even favors letting hospitals deny emergency contraception to rape victims." Brown did vote for a 2005 amendment for that purpose, but the ad doesn't mention is that Brown voted for the underlying bill anyway, even after the Republican governor vetoed it.

Scott Brown: 2005: Conscience-based opt out of post-rape contraception

It's true that in 2005, when the MA state Legislature was considering a bill to require hospitals to provide emergency contraception to rape victims, Brown introduced an amendment that would have let doctors and nurses opt out based on "a sincerely held religious belief" and refer patients elsewhere. It was similar to "conscience" provisions in federal legislation that would avoid forcing Catholic hospitals to provide abortion or contraception against the teachings of the church. Here's the language:

Brown amendment, Apr. 2005: "Nothing in this section shall impose any requirements upon any employee, physician or nurse of any facility t the extent that administering the contraception conflicts with a sincerely held religious belief. Said treating facility shall have in place a validated referral procedure policy for referring patients for administration of the emergency contraception."

Scott Brown: Provide info about emergency contraception to rape victims

The most misleading part of the ad, though is not what the narrator says, but what appears on screen. As the contraception amendment is mentioned, viewers see the words, "Deny rape victims care." Emergency contraception is certainly a type of care. But the language on screen implies that Brown would support denial of even, say, treatment of injuries sustained in a rape.

That's far from the truth. The bill required that rape victims be provided with accurate information about emergency contraception and that they be offered it. Brown voted for the bill after unsuccessfully trying to carve out a religion exception. And there is nothing in the record that we are aware of to suggest that Brown ever supported denying any other type of care to victims of sexual assault.

Scott Brown: Support legalized abortion, but not partial-birth abortion

"That's not right," Coakley shot back.

"Martha", Brown said, "with all due respect, you wrote an editorial that anyone can go online and find where you actually criticized partial-birth abortion, the fact that it's in fact not allowed. And we also have have a difference in that I don't believe that federal funding of abortion should be allowed, and I believe in a very strong parental consent notification law."

In a 2007 op-ed article in the Quincy Patriot-Ledger, Coakley called a Supreme Court decision upholding a ban on late-term abortions "tragic."

Martha Coakley: Helped minors get court orders without parental consent

"I know that none of the young women wanted to do this,'' Coakley said in a recent interview. "Many of them had tried to be careful or used contraception and it failed, or they did not understand. They had pointed out to me, what I still think is true, that we don't do a very good job around sex education for a lot of young women.''

As a district attorney, she called on the Legislature to create a stronger buffer zone between protesters and abortion clinics. As attorney general, she enforced and successfully defended the law against a legal challenge.

Martha Coakley: Partial-birth ban needs exceptions for maternal health

Scott Brown: Supported by right-to-life groups for stem cell stance

"We're behind him,'' said John Rowe, chairman of the group's federal political action committee. "The pro-life vote is very important at this point. It can make a big difference.'' The group did not support Brown in 2004, when, during his campaign for state Senate, he noted his support for Roe v. Wade. But Rowe said he believes that Brown's position has evolved. "We always welcome people coming over to our side,'' he said. Brown issued a statement through a spokesman: "While this decision should ultimately be made by the woman in consultation with her doctor, I believe we need to reduce the number of abortions in America,'' he said.

Scott Brown: Authored bill for 24-hour waiting period for abortion

Kerry Healey: I've always been pro choice, even when Romney disagreed

HEALEY: We’ve always disagreed on choice and I think those differences have only become more stark over time. And I respect that, I respect differences of opinion, but I’ve always been pro choice.

Kerry Healey: Favors embryonic stem cell research

Deval Patrick: Decisions on abortion should be made by women

Scott Brown: Abortions should always be legally available

Rep. Brown indicated he supports the following principles concerning abortion:
• Abortions should always be legally available.
• Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
• Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.