Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker announced he would sign a 20-week abortion ban, in an apparent effort to remove doubts about his willingness to take on social issues.
“I was raised to believe in the sanctity of life and I will always fight to protect it,” Walker wrote in an open letter Tuesday, touting his pro-life record and announcing his support for the Pain-Cabable Unborn Child Protection Act, which is essentially a ban on abortions after 20 weeks.
Walker is expected to run for president in 2016 and is widely considered a front runner for the nomination. But his willingness to fight for conservative social issues has been called into question, because he’s downplayed them in past campaigns, and has called on Republicans to focus on economic issues.
“The left wants us to get off of economic and fiscal issues because they know in my state, and across America, that’s where Republicans have the edge,” he told The Hill in 2013. Last year one of his campaign ads raised eyebrows, because he obviously toed the line for voters.
“I’m pro-life,” he said in the ad. “But there’s no doubt in my mind the decision of whether or not to end a pregnancy is an agonizing one. That’s why I support legislation to increase safety and to provide more information for a woman considering her options. The bill leaves the final decision to a woman and her doctor.”
Pressed about the ad in a recent Fox News interview, Walker said he is pro-life and will work to pass pro-life legislation, but that he can’t change the Supreme Court’s ruling that a woman has the right to an abortion. (RELATED: Scott Walker On Amnesty: ‘My Views Have Changed)
He boasts in the letter that he defunded Planned Parenthood in Wisconsin, prevented Obamacare plans in the state from covering abortion, and passed laws requiring mothers to be better informed before having an abortion. He expects legislation banning 20-week abortion to come to his desk this term, and said he will sign it and that supports similar legislation at the federal level.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.