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John Bel Edwards on Abortion
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Signed one of country's most restrictive anti-abortion laws
Edwards signed into law one of the most restrictive anti-abortion laws in the country, earning praise from groups like the Susan B. Anthony List, which applauded him for "leading the way in the bipartisan effort to bring our nation's laws into line with
basic human decency."Edwards said, "The pro-life ethos has to mean more than just the abortion issue. It's got to go beyond that. The job isn't over when the baby's born if you've got poor people who need access to health care."
Source: America Magazine on 2019 Louisiana gubernatorial race
, Dec 14, 2018
Unblemished anti-abortion voting record
John Bel Edwards says, "We need the exact opposite of what we've gotten from Bobby Jindal; he has sacrificed the state's well-being to further his own self-ambition." But in some ways, Edwards is more like Jindal than many might think. Like the governor,
he is an anti-abortion, pro-gun rights Catholic; his voting record is unblemished on both issues. Edwards is also known in the House as one of the most studied and disciplined legislators on either side of the aisle. Like Jindal, he has a sharp mind
for policy. And he's not the back-slapping, joke-telling candidate some Louisiana voters are accustomed to.What Edwards is telling voters that separates him from Jindal boils down to honesty.
Seven of the eight years he has served in the Legislature were spent closing budget deficits, and over time Edwards became increasingly vocal about calling out the governor on what he calls "fictions" in the budgeting process.
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune on 2015 La. Gubernatorial race
, Oct 8, 2015
AdWatch: My daughter is living proof of my pro-life values
State Rep. John Bel Edwards--is running an ad highlighting his anti-abortion views. In the 30-second TV spot, Edwards' wife Donna describes being 20-weeks pregnant when a doctor discovered their child had spina bifida and encouraged her to have an
abortion. `I was devastated,` Donna Edwards says. `But John Bel never flinched. He just said, 'No. No, we're going to love this baby no matter what.'`The commercial shows their grown-up daughter with her fiancee as Donna Edwards says, `Samantha's
getting married next spring and she's living proof that John Bel Edwards lives his values every day.`
Edwards said the ad was his daughter's idea `to make sure people understood where we are on that issue as it relates to our Catholic Christian faith,
being pro-life.` It also draws distinctions from the national Democratic Party, as Edwards positions himself as the kind of moderate Democrat that Louisiana used to regularly elect to statewide office.
Source: Okla. News AdWatch on 2015-2016 La. Gubernatorial race
, Oct 8, 2015
Provide alternatives to Planned Parenthood before blocking
The four major candidates all oppose abortion, but they do differ on the exceptions they're willing to consider in their opposition to the procedure. All four men say they don't object to an abortion when a mother's life is in jeopardy. Angelle and
Vitter don't support exceptions for rape or incest victims; Dardenne does. Edwards said he'd consider such exceptions if they were the `legislative will.`Another difference of opinion involves term-limited Gov. Bobby Jindal's decision to block
Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, which doesn't provide abortions in Louisiana. All three Republicans say they support Jindal's decision. Edwards said there should be more investigation of claims that the organization was illegally
profiting from fetal tissue sales, which Planned Parenthood denies. He also said Louisiana must make sure other health care locations are available to provide services before blocking Planned Parenthood from Medicaid.
Source: Okla. News on 2015 Louisiana Gubernatorial debate
, Oct 8, 2015
Abortion is the freedom of choice
Edwards indicated support for the following principles regarding abortion.-
Abortion is the freedom of choice, between the appropriate parties and their higher power.
Source: 200xx6 State Congressional National Political Awareness Test
, Nov 1, 2006
Page last updated: Apr 17, 2020
