FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 25, 2016
Contact: Mallory Quigley, [email protected] 202-223-8073
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new Marist Poll released this morning shows the Democratic Party position on abortion is dramatically out of step with the American people.
For the first time ever Democrats have added language in their platform calling for the repeal of the Hyde Amendment, bipartisan legislation that has protected the conscience rights of taxpayers by ensuring public funds are not used for abortion on-demand for decades. The new language contradicts the position previously taken by several Democratic Senators, including Bob Casey, Joe Donnelly, Heidi Heitkamp, and Joe Manchin, who have all previously said they oppose forcing taxpayers to fund abortion.
The new Marist poll finds that a majority of Americans:
- Support a limit on late-term abortion – 78 percent would limit it to, at most, the first three months of pregnancy
- Oppose taxpayer funding of abortion – 62 percent overall, including 45 percent of those who say they are “pro-choice” and 44 percent of Democrats
“Thirty-two percent of Democrats consider themselves pro-life but you would never know that judging by the new Democratic Party platform language or the speaking line up for the DNC this week,” said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine – cheered on by Planned Parenthood – are pushing the Democratic Party further and further to the extreme on abortion. Their position in support of abortion on-demand, up until the moment of birth, at taxpayer’s expense is dramatically out of step with the majority of Americans even those who identify as ‘pro-choice.’”
Dannenfelser also commented on Hillary Clinton’s selection of Sen. Tim Kaine as her running mate:
“Senator Kaine says he’s personally pro-life, but the abortion lobby has nothing to worry about. There is absolutely no daylight between Tim Kaine and Hillary Clinton on abortion. Sen. Kaine has sponsored legislation to wipe out every state pro-life law on the books, and even opposed a common ground ban on painful late-term abortions more than halfway through pregnancy. Most tellingly, in the weeks he has been considered for the VP pick, he has refused to reiterate his previously expressed support for the Hyde Amendment.”
Susan B. Anthony List and its Political Action Committees, the SBA List Candidate Fund and Women Speak Out PAC, spent $15.25 million in the 2014 election cycle to defeat pro-abortion incumbents and elect pro-life candidates to federal and statewide office. The SBA List is dedicated to pursuing policies and electing candidates who will reduce and ultimately end abortion. To that end, the SBA List emphasizes the education, promotion, mobilization, and election of pro-life women. The SBA List is a network of more than 365,000 pro-life Americans nationwide.
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