Texas Senator Confirms Her Support for Abortion, Contrasts With Perry
by Paul Nowak
LifeNews.com Staff Writer
June 9, 2004
Austin, TX (LifeNews.com) — U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) told reporters she supports legal abortion until viability, following her speech to the Republican Convention in Texas Saturday.
"My position is I think there can be an ability for a woman, until viability, to make a choice," said Hutchison, who added that she also supports states’ rights to pass restrictions such as parental notice or consent.
A possible candidate for governor in 2006, Hutchison has voted for pro-life legislation that has come up in the Senate, but also sided with abortion advocates in favor of a resolution backing Roe v. Wade.
"While we are most grateful to Senate Hutchison for her several pro-life votes in the U.S. Senate, we keep in mind that she still does not include herself among us who are pro-life," Joe Pojman, Executive Director of the Texas Alliance for Life, told LifeNews.com "She unfortunately continues to support the tragic Roe v. Wade decision that struck down Texas’ protective ban on abortions on demand 30 years ago."
"Senator Hutchison has been consistent in her position regarding abortion; she has always allowed for early abortions, while supporting the states’ rights to restrict abortion," noted Elizabeth Graham, Executive Director of Texas Right to Life.
"Constituents may hear the mixed message from her though, because from 1995 to 2000 Senator Hutchison’s voting record was 100% pro-life," Graham explained. "No measures that would have ferreted out her position regarding early abortions were being pursued during this time when she was voting pro-life, enabling her to accrue a strong pro-life record."
Hutchison also supports destructive embryonic stem cell research in which human embryos are created and then destroyed so that their cells might be harvested.
Though Hutchison would not say anything about a bid in the next gubernatorial race, pro-life leaders are concerned her views are not as pro-life as Texas’ current governor, Rick Perry.
"As one of one hundred senators, [Hutchison’s] damage is minimal–though not to be underestimated," explained Graham. "However, as a gubernatorial candidate in a state that leads the nation in pro-life laws, her views are too weak and unacceptable.
"Governor Perry has made his views known also," added Graham. "At the state Republican convention in Texas last weekend, his keynote address was unapologetically pro-life. Governor Perry enthusiastically stated that he will continue to do his part to protect innocent human life from fertilization until natural death — to which he received a prolonged standing ovation.
"Governor Perry’s actions match his words. Without his leadership both as Lieutenant Governor and now as Governor, Texas would not be the envy of pro-lifers nationwide due to the pro-life bills passed into laws over the last few years," concluded Graham.
Related Sites:
Texas Alliance for Life – https://www.texasallianceforlife.org
Texas Right to Life – https://www.texasrighttolife.com
