Anti-Reproductive Rights

Morse Was An Anti-Abortion And Anti-Reproductive Rights Extremist

Morse Supported Overturning Roe V. Wade

Morse Supported The Supreme Court Overturning Roe V. Wade And Said “I Strongly Believe That The States Should Have The Right To Govern Policy In Their Respective States As This Draft Opinion Would Ensure.” According to the Union Leader, “Republicans held no similar news conference, and few issued statements besides Sununu. One who did was Senate President Chuck Morse, who is seeking the GOP nomination for a U.S. Senate run. He said he was proud of his pro-life record and pointed to the 2021 Fetal Life Protection Act, which bans late term and partial birth abortions. The draft decision would have no effect on that law, he said. ‘We will wait to see what the Supreme Court ultimately decides, but I strongly believe that the states should have the right to govern policy in their respective states as this draft opinion would ensure,’ he said.” [Union Leader, 5/4/22]

Morse Minimized The Implications Of Striking Down Roe Because “We Settled The Law In New Hampshire That Permits Abortions In The First Six Months While Banning Late Term And Partial Birth Abortions In The Last 12 Weeks Of Pregnancy.” According to Politico, “Notably, one of Hassan’s potential opponents is state Senate President Chuck Morse, who helped pass a 24-week abortion ban last year. Like Laxalt, Morse minimized the implications of striking down Roe because ‘we settled the law in New Hampshire that permits abortions in the first six months while banning late term and partial birth abortions in the last 12 weeks of pregnancy.’ ‘Maggie Hassan is the only one out of touch when she champions late term and partial birth abortions,’ he said in a statement for this story.” [Politico, 5/6/22]

Morse Voted Against Codifying Roe V. Wade Into New Hampshire State Law

Morse Opposed Codifying Roe V. Wade Into Law. According to NHPR, “Several of Hassan's Republican opponents said they favor tougher limits on abortions and support the draft decision. One of her challengers is state Senate President Chuck Morse, who helped pass the 24-week abortion ban and opposed codifying Roe v. Wade into law. Another is Kevin Smith, a former town manager of Londonderry, who led a Christian advocacy group and is avowedly anti-abortion. Smith said if the draft decision holds, it will bring the abortion debate back to the states, where it belongs.” [NHPR, 5/14/22]

2022: Chuck Morse Voted Against An Amendment That Codified Abortion Rights Into State Law. In May 2022, according to the General Court of New Hampshire, Chuck Morse voted against a floor amendment to H.B. 1625 which “establishes the New Hampshire access to abortion care act.” The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The New Hampshire Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 12-12. [General Court of New Hampshire, Amendment 2022-1971s; Senate Actions, H.B. 1625; Bill Status, H.B. 1625; Bill Docket, H.B. 1625]

2021: Morse Was “Key Architect” In New Hampshire’s Abortion Ban And Opposed Exceptions

Morse Was “Key Architect” Of Budget Including Abortion Ban That Provided No Exceptions, Required Ultrasounds, And Included Criminal Penalties For Health Care Providers

NHPR: Morse Was “A Key Architect” In New Hampshire’s Budget That Included Abortion Ban. According to NHPR, “Morse's been a key architect of numerous state budgets, a staunch advocate of business tax cuts, and a longstanding political ally of Gov. Chris Sununu. Prior to Sununu's announcement that would seek another term, it was expected that Morse might run for Governor. If Republicans choose Morse as their nominee for U.S. Senate he'd face an opponent he knows well. He and incumbent Democrat Maggie Hassan served together in Concord. But first Morse must win a primary, something he hasn't had to do in years.” [NHPR, 1/10/22]

New Law Made It Illegal To Terminate A Pregnancy After 24 Weeks And Required Every Single Person Seeking An Abortion To Undergo An Ultrasound. According to NHPR, “In three weeks, it will not only be illegal to terminate a pregnancy after 24 weeks, but every person seeking an abortion, even a legal abortion, will have to undergo an ultrasound. In early stages of pregnancy, that means having a camera slid into the vagina, not an over-the-belly scan. It’s not pleasant, especially for sexual assault survivors, providers say.” [NHPR, 12/12/21]

New Law Provided No Exceptions Except For The Mother’s Life, Included Criminal Penalties For Health Care Providers, And Allowed The Father To Sue A Health Care Provider Who Violates The Law. According to NHPR, “The law provides no exceptions except for the mother’s life, includes criminal penalties for health care providers, and allows the father, if married to the mother, to sue a health care provider who violates the law. There is disagreement about whether the failure to perform an ultrasound during a legal abortion could trigger criminal penalties, though the law does not explicitly exempt the ultrasound requirement from criminal charges. That debate doesn’t matter to abortion providers, who say they will follow the law’s requirements. The risk of a civil suit from the fetus’s father alone is also one they are unwilling to take.” [NHPR, 12/12/21]

Morse Voted Against Exceptions For Rape, Incest, Or Life Of The Mother

2021: Chuck Morse Voted Against An Amendment That Provided Exceptions To The 24-Week Abortion Ban For Cases Of Rape Or Incest Or To Preserve The Life Or Health Of The Pregnant Individual. In June 2021, according to Senate Journal 18 of the State of New Hampshire, Chuck Morse voted against an amendment to H.B. 2 which would “Replace paragraph 16: 16. Prohibits the distribution of state funds awarded by the department of health and human services to a reproductive health care facility for provision of abortion services, and prohibits a health care provider from performing an abortion if the gestational age of the fetus is at least 24 weeks, except in cases of incest or rape or to preserve the life or health of the pregnant woman.” The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The New Hampshire Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 9-14. [Senate Vote 421, 6/3/21; New Hampshire Senate Journal 18 Pg. 772-773, 6/3/21; Senate Actions, H.B. 2; Bill Status, H.B. 2; Bill Docket, H.B. 2]

Morse Repeatedly Defended His Abortion Ban

[VIDEO] Morse Claimed It Was “Right” To Pass A Late Term Abortion Bill And Wanted To Bring Similar Legislation To Washington. “What we did in New Hampshire was right. We passed a late-term abortion bill. So in the seventh, eighth, ninth month, Senator Hassan cannot have the horror of a late-term abortion happening. In New Hampshire, we work to make sure a mother has a right to deal with her own pregnancy. That is what happened in New Hampshire, not some kind of total abortion ban in this state. I think Senator Hassan and the way she is explaining it is lying, and I don’t think it is right. We ban late-term abortions in New Hampshire. […] I would vote for what New Hampshire just passed. I think it is the right thing for our state is that I would bring New Hampshire to Washington.” [WMUR: Close Up, 1/30/22]

[AUDIO] Morse Said The Abortion Ban Was “Right” And “A Good Thing For New Hampshire.” “I think what New Hampshire did was right. I think what’s going to happen this year, Roe v. Wade will be overturned, I think the states are going to be where the control should be on this issue, and you’ll be debating that back here in New Hampshire. What we just passed – and I’ll tell you how difficult this is – that’s the first time, I believe in 50 years, that we were able to pass it. So the fact that we passed that in New Hampshire is a good thing for New Hampshire.” [Woodstock Meet And Greet, 3/7/22]

Morse Said “I Support What We’ve Accomplished In New Hampshire.” According to WMUR, “Candidate and New Hampshire Senate President Chuck Morse said he's in favor of the status quo in New Hampshire. ‘I support what we've accomplished in New Hampshire,’ he said. ‘We've given a mother the opportunity in the first six months to make the decisions on abortion on her own, and in the last 12 weeks we don't believe there should be partial-birth abortion.’” [WMUR, 5/9/22]

Morse Said He Would Vote For What New Hampshire Passed On The Federal Level

[VIDEO] Morse Said If He Were A Senator, He Would “Vote For What New Hampshire Just Passed.” “Question: You would not vote for a complete abortion ban? Chuck Morse: I would vote for what New Hampshire just passed. I think it’s the right thing for our state.” [WMUR, 1/30/22]

Morse Voted Against Establishing Buffer Zones

2014: Chuck Morse Voted Against Establishing Patient Safety Buffer Zones To Access Reproductive Health Care Facilities. In May 2014, according to Senate Journal 14 of the State of New Hampshire, Chuck Morse voted against concurring with the House amendment to S.B. 319, thus voting against S.B. 319, “relative to access to reproductive health care facilities.” The vote was a motion to concur. The New Hampshire Senate agreed to the motion by a vote of 14-9. Subsequently, the vote was reconsidered. [Senate Vote 94, 5/22/14; New Hampshire Senate Journal 14 Pg. 591, 5/22/14; Senate Actions, S.B. 319; Bill Status, S.B. 319; Bill Docket, S.B. 319]

Morse Repeatedly Voted To Repeal Law That Established Buffer Zones

2015: Chuck Morse Voted To Repeal The Law That Established Patient Safety Buffer Zones To Access Reproductive Health Care Facilities. In May 2015, according to Senate Journal 14 of the State of New Hampshire, Chuck Morse voted in favor of “repealing the law relative to providing certain parameters for access to reproductive health care facilities.” The vote was on passage. The New Hampshire Senate rejected the bill by a vote of 12-12. Subsequently, the bill was tabled and ultimately died on the table. [Senate Vote 66, 5/14/15; New Hampshire Senate Journal 14 Pg. 403, 5/14/15; Senate Actions, H.B. 403; Bill Status, H.B. 403; Bill Docket, H.B. 403]

2016: Chuck Morse Voted To Repeal The Law That Established Patient Safety Buffer Zones To Access Reproductive Health Care Facilities. In May 2016, according to Senate Journal 16 of the State of New Hampshire, Chuck Morse voted in favor of “repealing the law governing access to reproductive health care facilities.” The vote was on passage. The New Hampshire Senate rejected the bill by a vote of 12-12. Subsequently, the bill was tabled and ultimately died on the table. [Senate Vote 95, 5/5/16; New Hampshire Senate Journal 16 Pg. 521-522, 5/5/16; Senate Actions, H.B. 1570; Bill Status, H.B. 1570; Bill Docket, H.B. 1570]

2022: Chuck Morse Voted To Repeal The Buffer Zones Around Reproductive Health Care Facilities. In May 2022, according to the General Court of New Hampshire, Chuck Morse voted in favor of “repealing the prohibition on entering or remaining on a public way or sidewalk adjacent to a reproductive health care facility.” The vote was on the passage. The New Hampshire Senate passed the bill by a vote of 12-11, thus the bill was ordered to third reading. [General Court of New Hampshire, H.B. 1625; Senate Actions, H.B. 1625; Bill Status, H.B. 1625; Bill Docket, H.B. 1625]

2006: Morse Voted For Establishing Parental Consent For Minors And A Pharmacist Conscience Clause

2006: Chuck Morse Voted To Require Parental Consent Before Pharmacists May Provide Emergency Contraceptives To Minors And Establish A Pharmacist Conscience Clause That Would Permit Pharmacists To Refuse To Provide Emergency Contraceptive Drugs. In March 2006, according to the Journal of the Senate of the State of New Hampshire, Chuck Morse co-sponsored the bill and voted against the committee report, which reported the bill as inexpedient to legislate, thus voting in favor of the bill “relative to emergency contraception.” The vote was on the adoption of the committee report. The New Hampshire Senate adopted the committee report by a vote of 14-10, and thus killing the bill. [Senate Vote 35, 3/16/06; New Hampshire Senate Journal Pg. 491-497, 3/16/06; Senate Actions, S.B. 343; Bill Status, S.B. 343; Bill Docket, S.B. 343]

2006: Morse Opposed Funding Planned Parenthood

Morse Said He Was Opposed To Taxpayer Funding Of Planned Parenthood And Similar Organizations. According to a New Hampshire Right To Life survey, “9. Taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood and similar organizations supporting abortion on demand. ___ Support _ ✓_ Oppose ___ Undecided” [New Hampshire Right To Life, 7/24/06]

2011: Morse Voted Against Supplemental Appropriations For Family Planning Services

2011: Chuck Morse Voted Against An Amendment That Made Supplemental Appropriations Of $206K For Family Planning Services For The Biennium. In June 2011, according to Senate Journal 19 of the State of New Hampshire, Chuck Morse voted against a floor amendment to H.B. 2 which would “Amend the analysis by deleting paragraphs 106-109 and renumbering accordingly, and inserting the following new paragraph: 144. Makes a supplemental appropriation for family planning services.” The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The New Hampshire Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 6-18. [Senate Vote 73, 6/1/11; New Hampshire Senate Journal 19 Pg. 501, 6/1/11; Bill Text, H.B. 2; Bill Status, H.B. 2; Bill Docket, H.B. 2]

2017: Morse Voted To Prohibit Using Family Planning Program Funds Or Other State Funds For Abortion Services

2017: Chuck Morse Voted Against An Amendment That Removed The Prohibition On Reproductive Health Care Facilities Using Public State Funds To Provide Abortion Services. In May 2017, according to Senate Journal 18 of the State of New Hampshire, Chuck Morse voted against a floor amendment to H.B. 517 which would “Delete: 103. Prohibits reproductive health care facilities from using state funds to provide abortion services.” The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The New Hampshire Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 9-14. [Senate Vote 169, 5/31/17; New Hampshire Senate Journal 18 Pg. 535, 5/31/17; Senate Actions, H.B. 517; Bill Status, H.B. 517; Bill Docket, H.B. 517]

2017: Chuck Morse Voted For An Amendment That Prohibited Distributing State And Federal Funds To Reproductive Health Care Facilities That Provide Abortion Services. In May 2017, according to Senate Journal 18 of the State of New Hampshire, Chuck Morse voted for a floor amendment to H.B. 517 which would “Insert: 1. Prohibits the department of health and human services from distributing state or federal funds to reproductive health care facilities that offer abortion services.” The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The New Hampshire Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 6-17. [Senate Vote 175, 5/31/17; New Hampshire Senate Journal 18 Pg. 539, 5/31/17; Senate Actions, H.B. 517; Bill Status, H.B. 517; Bill Docket, H.B. 517]

2017: Chuck Morse Voted For An Amendment That Prohibited Using Family Planning Program Funds And Other State Funds To Fund Abortion Services. In May 2017, according to Senate Journal 18 of the State of New Hampshire, Chuck Morse voted for a floor amendment to H.B. 517 which would “Amend the bill by replacing section 219 with the following: 219 Family Planning Accounting Unit; Funding Abortions Prohibited. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the appropriation in accounting unit 05-95-90-902010-5530, family planning program, and any other funds shall not be used for evaluation, assessment, consultation about, referral for, preparation for, or provision of an abortion.” The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The New Hampshire Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 6-17. [Senate Vote 176, 5/31/17; New Hampshire Senate Journal 18 Pg. 539-540, 5/31/17; Senate Actions, H.B. 517; Bill Status, H.B. 517; Bill Docket, H.B. 517]