National Public Radio: on Abortion


Emilia Sykes: Opposed abortion ban if fetal heartbeat detected

SB23: Prohibit abortion if detectable heartbeat: NPR Summary: One of the Ohio Statehouse's most notable moments this year was the passage of the controversial "Heartbeat Bill." The bill contains exceptions for the life of the woman, but no exceptions for cases of rape or incest, and institutes criminal and other penalties for doctors who violate the law.

OnTheIssues Explanation: Fetal heartbeats can be detected at about 9 to 12 weeks gestation (by stethoscope) and potentially as early as 6 to 7 weeks gestation (by transvaginal ultrasound). Both of those timeframes are prior to the 13-week cutoff for banning abortion established by the 1973 "Roe v. Wade" Supreme Court case.

Legislative Summary: Passed House 56-40-3 on Apr/10/19; State Rep. Emilia Sykes voted NO; passed Senate 18-13-2 on Apr/10/19; signed by Governor Mike DeWine on Apr/11/19.

Source: Source: WOSU 89.7 NPR News on Ohio SB23 voting records Dec 31, 2019

Eric Schmitt: Reinstate rule banning abortion referrals with federal funds

Schmitt announced Missouri would join a lawsuit against the Biden administration that would seek to reinstate a federal rule imposed during the Trump administration regarding abortions. The Biden administration had peeled back a 2019 rule that banned federally funded family planning clinics from referring patients for abortions. It also required family planning clinics receiving federal funds to remain financially and physically separate from abortion providers.
Source: KCUR 89.3 FM (NPR) on 2022 Missouri Senate race Nov 4, 2021

Joe Biden: Restore federal Title X family planning program

PROMISE MADE: (Campaign website JoeBiden.com): Biden will reissue guidance specifying that states cannot refuse Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood and other providers and reverse the Trump Administration's rule preventing these organizations from obtaining Title X funds.

PROMISE KEPT: (NPR News, 4/14/21): The Biden administration is moving to reverse a Trump-era family planning policy that critics describe as a domestic "gag rule" for reproductive healthcare providers. The proposal would largely return the federal Title X family planning program to its status before Trump took office. The current rules, implemented by Trump in 2019, forbid any provider who provides or refers patients for abortions from receiving federal funding through Title X to cover services such as contraception and STD screenings for low-income people.

ANALYSIS: Since 1970, the Title X Program provides family planning services, without abortion funding.

Source: NPR on Biden Administration promises Apr 14, 2021

Kirsten Gillibrand: Codify Roe v. Wade; repeal Hyde Amendment

I will only appoint judges and justices that see Roe v. Wade as settled precedent. I will codify Roe v. Wade legislatively. I will look to remove the Hyde Amendment, which is the law that prohibits federal money paying for abortion services in a full range of health care, particularly for poor low-income women. I will also make sure and guarantee that no matter what state you live in, you will have a right to access full reproductive services, including abortion services.
Source: NPR Morning Edition, "Election 2020: Opening Arguments" May 23, 2019

Kirsten Gillibrand: Would look to remove the Hyde Amendment

I will only appoint judges and justices that see Roe v. Wade as settled precedent. I will codify Roe v. Wade legislatively. I will look to remove the Hyde Amendment, which is the law that prohibits federal money paying for abortion services in a full range of health care, particularly for poor low-income women. I will also make sure and guarantee that no matter what state you live in, you will have a right to access full reproductive services, including abortion services.
Source: NPR Morning Edition: Election 2020 Special Series May 23, 2019

Matt Dolan: Opposed abortion ban if fetal heartbeat detected

SB23: Prohibit abortion if detectable heartbeat: NPR Summary: One of the Ohio Statehouse's most notable moments this year was the passage of the controversial "Heartbeat Bill." The bill contains exceptions for the life of the woman, but no exceptions for cases of rape or incest, and institutes criminal and other penalties for doctors who violate the law.

OnTheIssues explanation: Fetal heartbeats can be detected at about 9 to 12 weeks gestation (by stethoscope) and potentially as early as 6 to 7 weeks gestation (by transvaginal ultrasound). Both of those timeframes are prior to the 13-week cutoff for banning abortion established by the 1973 "Roe v. Wade" Supreme Court case.

Legislative Summary: Passed House 56-40-3 on Apr/10/19; passed Senate 18-13-2 on Apr/10/19; State Senator Matt Dolan voted NO; signed by Governor Mike DeWine on Apr/11/19.

Source: WOSU 89.7 NPR News on Ohio SB23 voting records Dec 31, 2019

Mike DeWine: Enacted abortion ban if fetal heartbeat detected

SB23: Prohibit abortion if detectable heartbeat: NPR Summary: One of the Ohio Statehouse's most notable moments this year was the passage of the controversial "Heartbeat Bill." The bill contains exceptions for the life of the woman, but no exceptions for cases of rape or incest, and institutes criminal and other penalties for doctors who violate the law.

OnTheIssues explanation: Fetal heartbeats can be detected at about 9 to 12 weeks gestation (by stethoscope) and potentially as early as 6 to 7 weeks gestation (by transvaginal ultrasound). Both of those timeframes are prior to the 13-week cutoff for banning abortion established by the 1973 "Roe v. Wade" Supreme Court case.

Legislative Summary: Passed House 56-40-3 on Apr/10/19; passed Senate 18-13-2 on Apr/10/19; signed by Governor Mike DeWine on Apr/11/19.

Source: WOSU 89.7 NPR News on Ohio SB23 voting records Dec 31, 2019

Mike Parson: Signs bill criminalizing abortion after eight weeks

Parson signed a bill that criminalizes abortions after eight weeks of pregnancy. Any person who performs an abortion after eight weeks--often before many women are aware they are pregnant--could be charged with a felony punishable by five to 15 years in prison. The legislation does not have exceptions for victims of rape or incest. It does have a carve-out for cases of medical emergencies. Parson has said he would like to make Missouri "the most Pro-Life state in the country,"
Source: NPR.org on 2020 Missouri gubernatorial race May 24, 2019

Susan Rice: Disagrees with son: she's pro-choice, he's pro-life

On abortion: "We agree, for example, on the importance of the United States playing a responsible, principled leadership role in the world," she said of her son. "We agree on the importance of having strong alliances. We agree we have to be cleareyed and strong in dealing with adversaries like Russia and the threat that China may pose. We disagree on things like choice. I'm pro-choice. He's pro-life. That's the kind of difference that we ought to be able to respect."
Source: NPR news website on 2020 Veepstakes Aug 4, 2020

  • The above quotations are from National Public Radio election coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Howard Dean on Abortion.
  • Click here for more quotes by Harry Reid on Abortion.
2024 Presidential contenders on Abortion:
  Candidates for President & Vice-President:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA)
Chase Oliver(L-GA)
Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA)
Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL)
Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH)
Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN)
Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)

2024 presidential primary contenders:
Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE)
N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R)
N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R)
Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R)
S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R)
Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R)
Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN)
Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH)
S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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Page last updated: Oct 26, 2024