Indiana Governor Mike Pence, a pro-life governor hailed by pro-life groups for recently signing a bill to ban abortions targeting babies with Down syndrome, is seen as Donald Trump’s most likely running mate. Pence has quickly become the subject of speculation as the most likely choice for the presumptive Republican nominee.
Pence is a pro-life champion who has signed multiple pieces of pro-life legislation into law and led the fight in Congress to de-fund Planned Parenthood. His selection would go a long way towards mollifying concerns some pro-life voters have had about Trump, who has campaigned as a pro-life candidate but who has made some misstatements on abortion and Planned Parenthood.
One report suggests there is a 95% chance Pence will become the vice-presidential nominee and Twitter is abuzz today with talk about a rally the Trump campaign in planning in Indiana for next Tuesday.
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A Donald Trump campaign stop in Indiana scheduled for Tuesday is raising speculation that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee will announce Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate.
The Washington Times reported Sunday evening that Pence has a “95 percent probability” of being Trump’s choice, according to sources close to the campaign and to the governor.
Trump has said he will make an announcement before the Republican National Convention, which begins on July 18. Pence, who is seeking reelection to a second term as governor, would have to withdraw from that contest by noon on July 15 if he’s going to run as Trump’s vice president.
Former Trump adviser Michael Caputo said Sunday he’s putting all his chips on an announcement at the event next week.
“Right guy. Right timing. Right place #TrumpPence2016,” he tweeted.
Earlier this year, Pence signed House Bill 1337, which would ban abortion doctors from knowingly aborting an unborn baby solely because of a genetic disability such as Down syndrome, the unborn baby’s race or sex. The bill also has several other abortion-related measures, including a requirement that aborted or miscarried babies’ bodies be cremated or buried and another requirement that abortionists who have hospital admitting privileges renew them annually. The burial/cremation requirement backs up a law passed in 2015 by Gov. Pence requiring that aborted babies’ bodies be disposed of in a humane way.
“Throughout my public career, I have stood for the sanctity of life. HEA 1337 is a comprehensive pro-life measure that affirms the value of all human life, which is why I signed it into law today,” Governor Pence said in a statement.
Pence continued: “I believe that a society can be judged by how it deals with its most vulnerable—the aged, the infirm, the disabled and the unborn. HEA 1337 will ensure the dignified final treatment of the unborn and prohibits abortions that are based only on the unborn child’s sex, race, color, national origin, ancestry, or disability, including Down syndrome.”
He also started a state investigation of the Planned Parenthood abortion business after it was caught selling body parts of aborted babies.
Previously, Pence led the Congressional effort to defund the abortion corporation.
“Reports show that Planned Parenthood, America’s largest abortion provider, receives nearly one-third of its $1 billion annual budget from the federal government. And it’s about to get worse, because Obamacare is hiding even more tax dollars in handouts for abortion providers,” Pence explained at the time.
“Nearly 3,500 abortions are performed every day in America. That’s 3,500 lives taken away, many on the government dime without the knowledge or direct approval of taxpayers! It’s reprehensible and we can’t allow it to continue,” Pence added.
Pence referred to the Pledge With America that House Republicans put forward before the elections promising to dismantle ObamaCare, which contains a full prohibition on abortion funding, and to cut off taxpayer funding for abortions in other areas.
“I’m ready to deliver that promise with legislation that will prevent abortion providers like Planned Parenthood from receiving a single dime from the federal government,” the Indiana congressman wrote. “With a new Republican majority, Planned Parenthood is running scared.”
Pence said then he was not surprised Planned Parenthood attacked him for pressing for defunding.
“The fear of losing their federal funding has led them to target me for my pro-life positions. They’ve even named me to their 2010 Election Hall of Shame for advocating a pro-life agenda on Capitol Hill,” he said. “But I refuse to back down.”
“Our tax dollars should not be spent on abortions. I know it. You know it. Let’s make sure every member of Congress knows it,” he concluded.
