Pro-family activism that makes a difference!
 
 

Here's how Mitt Romney filled out Planned Parenthood's candidate survey in 2002

When running for Massachusetts governor -- as a "moderate"

POSTED: Feb. 25, 2012

While running for GovernorRomney told Planned Parenthood that he supports:

-  Roe v. Wade
-  State funding for abortions
-  Requiring insurance to cover contraception (in principle, depending on cost)
-  The "buffer zone" around abortion clinics and "aggressive enforcement" of it
-  Sex education for kids in schools
-  Increased access to emergency contraception (i.e., Catholic hospitals)
-  and more.

(Here's what Romney filled out; see text of questionnaire below.)

 

Text of questionnaire (Romney's answers in red):

Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts
Candidate Questionnaire 2002

1. Do you support the substance of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade? YES

2. Do you support state funding of abortion services through Medicaid for low-income women? YES

3. Would you vote to support legislation that would require insurers that provide prescription coverage for other drugs to prescription coverage for contraceptives? I want to first evaluate the cost of this program before I commit to supporting it.

4. Reproductive health care facilities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have been targets of blockades, disturbances, and violence. This past legislative session a bill passed that would increase safety measures at reproductive health care facilities by providing a 6-foot bubble zone around patients and staff with an 18-foot radius of the building. These bubble zones, as well as buffer zones around the entrances and exits of such facilities would help protect individuals from harassment and intimidation while protecting the First Amendment rights of persons to express their views. Do you support legislation to establish safety zones surrounding reproductive health care facilities in the Commonwealth? YES

5. Do you support the teaching of responsible, age-appropriate, factually accurate health and sexuality education, including information about both abstinence and contraception, in public schools? YES

6. Anti-choice groups have tried to erode a woman's constitutional right to choose by trying to ban specific abortion procedures. One such attempt has been the campaign to ban so-called "partial-birth" abortions. Would you oppose a ban on safe and medically necessary methods of abortion? The double-negative construction of this question is confusing. I support the ban already codified in Massachusetts state law which prohibits abortions after 24 weeks except those performed by a physician to save the life of the mother, or when there is a substantial risk of grave impairment to her health.

7. In recent years, a campaign of violence, intimidation, and harassment has been waged against reproductive health providers, patients, and their families. Planned Parenthood believes the federal government should take an aggressive role in enacting and enforcing laws to deter these illegal acts, and in prosecuting the perpetrators of such acts. Do you support the enactment and enforcement of laws that help prevent violence, intimidation and harassment directed at reproductive health providers and their patients? YES

8. Currently, according to Massachusetts General Law, if you are under the age of 18 and you have never been married, you must have the consent of one of your parents or a judge to have an abortion in Massachusetts. Do you oppose restrictions on a minor's access to abortion services? The double-negative construction of this question is confusing. I support current state law.

9. In 1998, the FDA approved the first packaging of emergency contraception, also known as "the morning after pill." Emergency contraception is a high dose combination of oral contraceptives that if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, can safely prevent a pregnancy from occurring. Do you support efforts to increase access to emergency contraception? YES

Signed: Mitt Romney
Date: April 9, 2002