Tom Wolf on Abortion

Scott Wagner (R): Ban. Co-sponsor of bill to ban after 20 weeks, with exceptions only to save life of mother, not for rape or incest.

Tom Wolf (D): Legal. Vetoed post-20-week ban. Make sure "that women continue to have the right to make their own decisions."

Q: Can employers withhold contraceptive coverage if disagree with it?

Wagner: No public statement found.

Wolf: No. Supports state law requiring employers to cover birth control at no cost.

Q: Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion health care?

Scott Wagner (R): No. Co-sponsored bill to defund.

Tom Wolf (D): Yes.

Tradition of freedom of conscience includes abortion rights

Gov. Tom Wolf has repeatedly pledged to veto the legislation as soon as it reaches his desk. Wolf has taken a personal role in advocating against the legislation, holding events with activists, doctors & women who had late-term abortions that would be restricted if the bill becomes law.

Wolf thinks the bill goes against the state's values. "We were founded by William Penn, on the basis of freedom of conscience. We attracted people from all over the world, based on the idea that they could make their own, most personal decisions. Making sure that women continue to have the right to make their own decisions, I think, is right in line with that tradition," Wolf said. "

Legislative outcome: HB77 passed Senate, 32-18-0 on Feb. 8

Vetoes further limits on dilation and evacuation abortions

In a 10-5 vote along party lines, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 3 and sent it to the Senate floor for consideration. Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to veto the legislation if it comes to his desk.

Supporters say that SB3 would "better align the law with modern medicine by moving restrictions on most abortions back from six months set in 1992 to five months."

The bill would curtail dilation and evacuation abortions--in which instruments are used to remove the fetus sometimes pulling off limbs and appendages. However, the bill does not refer to dilation and evacuation, but to "dismemberment abortion," a term popularized by anti-abortion advocates, but not recognized by the medical community.

Support abortion rights

Government should not tell women what choices to make

Tom Wolf is proud to stand with women in Pennsylvania who are fighting backwards legislation signed into law by Governor Corbett that restricts a woman's right to make her own personal health care decisions.

As governor, Tom will work every day to protect fundamental rights, and make sure that women and their families have access to safe, affordable, and high-quality health care options.

It's not fair for the government to try to tell a woman what health care choices she can make. Tom supports a woman's right to choose.