Regardless of one’s views on this sensitive topic, Mr. Boucher’s votes on abortion are extreme left. Mr. Boucher is one of the most passionately liberal pro-abortion advocates in Congress as witnessed by his 100% approval rating by Planned Parenthood (the number one abortion provider in the country) and pro-abortion NARAL (formerly National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League). He has a “zero” approval rating from National Right to Life.
There have been at least 47 votes in Congress on the abortion issue since 1988 and Mr. Boucher has voted 100% in favor of all pro-abortion issues and 100% AGAINST any restrictions whatsoever. He has voted for tax payers’ funding of abortions, PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTIONS and even abortions performed by private organizations in foreign countries.
Mr. Boucher strongly supports Mr. Obama who said that he would, as one of his first actions as President, immediately sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) which, if passed, would abolish all restrictions on abortion. That Bill would make it mandatory for all hospitals to provide abortions upon request, including partial birth abortion, and taxpayers would foot the bill. FOCA is a sweeping Act that would abolish all pro-life regulations across the nation, from parental notification laws to bans on taxpayer funding of abortions. All categories of pro-life laws would be stampeded and nullified as FOCA would nail shut the coffin on any and all pro-life safeguards.
Mr. Boucher is a Congressional CO-SPONSOR of the FREEDOM OF CHOICE ACT (HR 1964) introduced in its current version in April, 2007.
There is an extremely informative and creative website at www.ffl9.com/ . It is highly recommended. That site (which stands for Fight for Life – 9th District) has been created by citizens of the 9th who are fighting to expose the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) and Mr. Boucher’s co-sponsorship of that Bill. (There is now a link to that website on our Home Page).
(It is widely known that Mr. Obama’s support for abortion is so extreme that he was the lone voice in favor of letting a LIVING fetus (baby) die unattended if it was born after a failed abortion attempt. His reasoning was that the “INTENT of the mother” took priority over the LIFE of the living “fetus”…. er, baby).
On the issues of abortion, Mr. Boucher continually claims that he, as our Representative in the 9th District, represents the “mainstream majority” of the citizens in Southwest Virginia. Based on his following key votes and summary, YOU BE THE JUDGE.
Some of Mr. Boucher’s key votes:
1. 1988 (HR4776) – PROHIBIT use of TAX PAYER money for abortions in D.C. Boucher voted NO. (i.e. Boucher voted FOR using tax payer money to pay for abortions in D.C.). Congress REJECTED it.
2. 1991 (HR2707) – “Gag Rule” Barring Abortion COUNSELING in Federally Funded Clinics. (This was a vote to override President George H. W. Bush’s veto). Boucher voted YES to barring COUNSELING. The veto override FAILED.
3. 1993 (Hyde Amendment) – To adopt an amendment that BANS USE of FEDERAL FUNDS for an Abortion UNLESS the pregnancy is a result of rape, incest or to save the life of woman. Boucher voted NO to the BAN on use of taxpayers’ money. (i.e Boucher continued to favor tax payers funding of abortions). Congress voted YES to the BAN by 256 to 171.
4. 1995 Foreign Abortion Ban Amendment. To prohibit FEDERAL FUNDS from being allocated to any PRIVATE ORGANIZATION that performs abortions in a foreign country except cases of rape, incest, or to save life of woman. Boucher voted NO. (i.e. Boucher favored taxpayers funding of abortions in foreign countries). Congress voted YES to BANNING use of taxpayer money to private organizations providing abortions abroad by 240 to 181.
5. 1995 – PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION BAN. Bill that would BAN partial-birth abortion. Defines PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION as an abortion in which partially vaginally delivers a living fetus before killing the fetus and completing the delivery. Boucher vote NO to the BAN on PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION. Congress voted YES the BAN 288 to 139. (Clinton vetoed it. Congress OVERRODE the veto).
6. 1996 – Medicaid Funded Abortions Amendment. A vote NOT TO ALLOW STATES to DECIDE whether to use Medicaid funds to pay for abortions in case of rape, incest, or to save life of the woman. It REQUIRES states to make Medicaid funds available. Boucher voted YES. Congress voted NO 222 to 198.
7. 1997 – Population Planning Bill. FORBIDDING funds to international groups that perform abortions. Boucher voted NO. (i.e. he voted FOR American tax payers’ money to be used). Congress voted NO to the use of tax payers’ money.
8. 1999 – Prohibition of Chemically Induced Abortion. Amendment to PROHIBIT Food and Drug Administration from testing, developing or approving any drug for the chemical inducement of Abortion. Boucher voted NO. (i.e. he voted NOT to prohibit FDA). Congress voted YES to prohibiting FDA.
9. 1999 – CHILD CUSTODY PROTECTION ACT. Bill that criminalizes transporting a MINOR across state lines to AVOID PARENTAL NOTIFICATION LAWS and obtain access to Abortion services. Boucher voted NO. Congress voted YES 270 to 159.
10. 2005 – CHILD INTERSTATE ABORTION NOTIFICATION ACT. PROHIBITS the transportation of a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion WITHOUT the CONSENT of a PARENT or LEGAL GUARDIAN. Boucher voted NO. (i.e. he voted in favor of the transport of a minor across state lines WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT). Congress voted YES to prohibiting it – 270 to 157.
11. 2006 – Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act. CRIMINALIZES the transportation of pregnant MINORS across state lines with the intention of the MINOR obtaining an abortion as a way to ESCAPE state laws requiring PARENTAL CONSENT. Boucher voted NO to criminalizing such an act. Congress voted YES 264 to 153.
12. 2006 – Abortion Pain Bill. (Also referred to as Unborn Child Awareness Bill). Outlines protocols that abortion providers must follow before performing an abortion on unborn child that is 20 or more weeks (5 months) into development. Required material to be presented to mother regarding possible pain to fetus. Boucher voted NO. The Bill failed.
Do you believe Mr. Boucher’s votes on this issue represent the “values” of the majority of folks in Southwest Virginia? Organizations like Planned Parenthood and pro-abortion NARAL vehemently agree with Mr. Boucher and give him a 100% approval rating. National Right to Life gives Mr. Boucher “zero” approval rating and National Christian Coalition gives him a 15% approval rating.
SUMMARY:
- Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines (Jan., 2007).
- Voted YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research (May, 2005).
- Voted NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions (April, 2005).
- Voted NO on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime (Feb, 2004).
- Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save a mother’s life (Oct, 2003).
- Voted NO on forbidding human cloning for reproduction & medical research (Frb, 2003).
- Voted NO on funding for health providers who don’t provide abortion info (Sep, 2002).
- voted NO on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad (May, 2001).
- Voted NO on federal crime to harm fetus while committing other crimes (Apr, 2001).
- Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortions (Apr, 2000).
- Voted NO on barring transporting minors to get an abortion (Jun, 1999).
- Voted FOR ensuring access to and funding for contraception (Feb, 2007).
- Rated 100% by pro-abortion NARAL.
- Rated 100% by pro-abortion Planned Parenthood.
- Rated 0% by National Right to Life.
YOU BE THE JUDGE.