Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) promised that Republicans would restrict access to abortions if the party regains power after the midterm elections, telling listeners of WOWO AM 1190 this morning that President Barack Obama has led “the most pro-abortion administration since Roe v. Wade.”
In a year in which Republicans have downplayed abortion issues in favor of the economy and jobs — so-called traditional issues received no more than a line in the GOP’s Pledge — Pence left no doubt that the party will pursue an anti-abortion agenda. Along with repealing Obamacare “lock, stock and barrel,” Pence pledged to:
PENCE: [P]ush for legislation that would impose the Hyde amendment restrictions on abortion funding across federal spending… Reinstating the Mexico City policy to make sure our foreign aid isn’t used to subsidize abortion. Using the power of the purse to make sure that the federal budget reflects the values of the American people is mission critical. I think in all of those ways, you’re going to see — if Republicans are given the opportunity to lead again — you’re going to see a pro-life agenda on Capitol Hill. It will be a bipartisan pro-life agenda because there are more than a few pro-life Democrats who I believe will stand with Republicans in those efforts.
Listen:
Pence also referenced Gov. Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) support for repealing health care reform and suggested that Republicans may have a bipartisan majority to overturn President Obama’s veto of repeal legislation. “The reality is, you’ve got a Democratic candidate for Senate out in West Virginia, Gov. Manichin who has just announced that he’s for full repeal of Obamacare,” Pence said. “I don’t know how public opinion would shift if they thought we had the votes in the House and the Senate to repeal Obamacare.” “We do have this thing called veto-override. Which again, is a very tall hill under the constitution of the United States but too often in the public debate we leave the American people out of the conversation.”
Pence also promised to pursue the “dual track” of de-funding reform, saying that Republicans will use the “power of the purse to deny any funding for the implementation of Obamacare so at minimum we will have the ability to take their government takeover of health care to a national referendum in the next presidential election.”
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