With all the focus on Bart Stupak and abortion, it’s easy to overlook state and local races where abortion is an issue. In Pennsylvania, we are coming up on a primary to determine which Democrat will win the nomination to replace Governor Ed Rendell. There are four serious candidates (although polling indicates only three have much chance against the likely Republican). Of those three, only former Rep. Joe Hoeffel has a consistent and staunch record of supporting reproductive freedom for women. The narrow frontrunner, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato promises not to change any laws despite being personally pro-life, while Jack Wagner is unapologetically anti-choice. Here’s how Wagner answered the Philly for Change questionnaire:
4. Summarize briefly your positions regarding abortion and emergency contraception.
I am a pro-life Democrat. I support public funding and access to family planning and contraceptive services that do not include abortion.
Because I strongly believe that the right to life must also mean the right to a decent life for both mother and child, I have always placed a priority on strengthening health care, education, social services, and other important programs. I have also been a strong proponent of adoption. I served on a statewide adoption task force and I have chaired the annual Genesis-Riverside Run for Adoption in Pittsburgh since 1994. This event has played a major role in promoting adoption as an alternative to abortion. My wife Nancy and I are the proud parents of two adopted children, Luke and Sara.
And here is Joe Hoeffel’s response:
4. Summarize briefly your positions regarding abortion and emergency contraception.
I support a woman’s right to choose. I trust women to make their own personal, private decisions regarding reproductive health issues — the government should not be involved. Moreover, we must not allow healthcare reform to prevent a woman from selecting a healthcare plan that covers abortion. I have issued a statement that as governor, I will veto any bill presented to me by the state legislature that attempts to prevent Pennsylvania’s healthcare exchange from including a plan which covers abortion (as the Senate’s version of the healthcare bill would allow to happen).
I also support access to emergency contraception for all women in Pennsylvania, and specifically the CARE Act (Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies) which requires emergency rooms throughout Pennsylvania to provide emergency contraception to victims of rape.
Joe Hoeffel is no rape gurney Joe. He’s no Stupak, either. But I don’t know that I can say the same for Onorato and I certainly cannot say it for Jack Wagner.
The early polling shows Onorato leading, with Hoeffel in second place. They both do about the same in a match-up against Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett. If you are getting really sick of the Democratic Party using women’s rights as a bargaining chip, you can make a difference by getting involved in Hoeffel’s campaign. It’ll make you feel better. It’s a tough year for Democrats, but Hoeffel is willing to fight to keep the Pennsylvania governorship in Democratic hands. With Hoeffel, on women’s rights, it will make a difference which party wins. With the others? Not so much.
