Maryland Senate: Where do Kathy Szeliga and Chris Van Hollen Stand on Abortion?

State   |   Karen Cross   |   Sep 19, 2016   |   7:25PM   |   Washington, DC

Every election year, National Right to Life publishes downloadable comparison flyers about the various Senate candidates. The downloadable version for Maryland’s “Where do the Senate Candidates Stand on Life?” is available here.

The candidates have very different views on abortion. Here is an overview of their positions on abortion-related issues.

Abortion on Demand

Kathy Szeliga is pro-life. She opposes abortion on demand, and supports protection for unborn children.

In contrast, Chris Van Hollen supports a policy of abortion on demand, which allows abortion for any reason.

Kathy Szeliga supports the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, legislation to protect unborn children who can feel pain by prohibiting abortion at 20 weeks, a point by which the unborn child is capable of experiencing great pain when being killed by dismemberment or other late abortion methods.

Chris Van Hollen voted against the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36).

Chris Van Hollen is a co-sponsor of H.R. 448, a bill that, if enacted, would invalidate nearly all state and federal limitations on abortion.

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Taxpayer Funding for Abortion

Kathy Szeliga opposes the use of tax dollars to pay for abortion.

In contrast, Chris Van Hollen is a co-sponsor of H.R. 2972, a bill that would mandate coverage of abortion without limitation in Medicaid and other federally funded health programs.

Protecting Babies Born Alive During Abortion

Kathy Szeliga supports a bill to provide legal protection for babies who survive abortions.

Chris Van Hollen voted against passage of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (Roll Call No. 506, 9/18/2015).

Government Funding for Abortion Providers

Kathy Szeliga opposes providing government funds to abortion providers.

Chris Van Hollen voted to provide government funds to the nation’s largest abortion provider.

Obama’s Health Care Law

Kathy Szeliga opposes Obamacare. She is committed to reversing the abortion-expanding and rationing effects of that law.

In contrast, Chris Van Hollen voted for Obamacare, which provides government funding for insurance plans that pay for abortion on demand, and imposes rationing of lifesaving medical care.

A downloadable version of the Maryland Senate comparison flyer may be found here.

LifeNews Note: Karen Cross is the political director for the National Right to Life Committee.