¶ Abortion
¶ Cameron Said He Personally Opposed Abortion, Including Rape Or Incest Exceptions
2022: Cameron Said He Personally Supported Kentucky’s Trigger Law, Which Had No Exceptions For Rape Or Incest. According to The Associated Press, “Kentucky’s trigger law includes no exceptions for rape or incest victims. Asked Monday if he personally supports adding those exceptions, Cameron replied: ‘I support what the Human Life Protection Act says’ — a reference to the trigger law. He then expressed support for the existing exception to save the life of a pregnant woman.” [Associated Press, 11/28/22]
2022: Cameron Claimed He “Ended Abortion In The Commonwealth Of Kentucky.” According to Cameron’s Twitter, “There’s only ONE candidate who can say they’ve: ✅ENDED abortion in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. ✅Fought for your Constitutional rights ALL the way to the US Supreme Court. ✅Gone toe-to-toe with the Biden Administration and WON. And that candidate is me.” [Twitter, @DanielCameronAG, 8/8/22]
2019: Cameron Said He Made “No Apologies For My Opposition To Abortion” And Claimed “Liberal Extremists” Supported “Partial-Birth Abortion Up To The Moment Of Birth And Even Post-Birth.” According to The Louisville Courier Journal, “I fully believe the role of the Attorney General’s Office is to enforce the law. And like most Kentuckians, I am pro-life and make no apologies for my opposition to abortion. On the other hand, my opponent was hostile to pro-life legislation and routinely blocked pro-life bills from becoming law when he served as speaker of the House, which was a despicable use of his power. What we have seen recently in other states is that an ‘expansion’ of abortion on demand means liberal extremists have included partial-birth abortion up to the moment of birth and even post-birth. That’s wrong. A partial-birth abortion is a heinous practice that has no place in a modern society. I hope the legislature continues to uphold bans on practices such as these.” [Louisville Courier Journal, 10/28/19]
¶ Cameron Vehemently DefendED Strict Anti-Choice Laws
2022: Cameron Sued To Defend Kentucky’s Abortion Bans Even After Voters Defeated An Anti-Abortion Ballot Measure. According to The Washington Post, “Cameron, the staunchly antiabortion attorney general, successfully fought for the right to keep defending Kentucky’s abortion bans after Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said his administration was declining to further defend the restrictive laws. Chief among Cameron’s arguments is that regulating the state’s abortion laws should fall to the state legislature and should not be determined by court decisions. Reached for comment Monday, a spokesperson for Cameron’s office referred to his statement released the day after Amendment 2’s defeat in which he argued the election result ‘does not change our belief that there is no right to abortion hidden in the Kentucky Constitution.’ On Nov. 9, Cameron filed a motion with the state Supreme Court, arguing that the election result should have no bearing on the justices’ decision, similar to the argument he made in his opening brief: ‘The Court interprets the words that Kentuckians ratified in 1891, not the intended effect of the words that they failed to ratify in 2022.’” [Washington Post, 11/15/22]
¶ Cameron Tried To Halt Abortions During COVID
2020: Cameron Tried To Halt Abortions During The Pandemic, Calling Them “Elective” Medical Procedures. According to NARAL, “Attorney General Daniel Cameron issued a statement this morning calling on the Acting Secretary for the Cabinet of Health and Family Services to certify that abortion providers in Kentucky are violating the ban on ‘elective’ medical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic by continuing to provide abortion care.” [NARAL, 3/27/20]
2020: Beshear Vetoed The Born-Alive Infant Protection Act Which Would Have Given Cameron The Authority To Regulate Abortion Clinics. According to WDRB, “Gov. Andy Beshear on Friday vetoed legislation that would have given Attorney General Daniel Cameron new authority to regulate abortion clinics. While Cameron called the move ‘reprehensible,’ Beshear's action was cheered by abortion rights groups. Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 9 on April 15, the final day of the 2020 Kentucky General Assembly. Known as the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, it would require state doctors to provide life-saving care to any infant born alive, including after a failed abortion attempt. The legislation also would have given Cameron, a Republican and abortion rights opponent, the power to suspend abortions as an elective procedure during the novel coronavirus outbreak.” [WDRB, 4/24/20]
2023: Cameron Was Endorsed By Kentucky Right To Life Victory PAC With “100% ProLife Responses” On The Candidate Questionnaire.
[Kentucky Right To Life Victory Pact, Viewed 3/2/23]
Candidates Were Required To Complete The Entire Kentucky Right To Life Survey In Order To Be Considered For Endorsement. According to the KRTL Survey, “The online survey must be received in our office no later than Sunday Jan 22, 2023. A completed and signed 2023 questionnaire is required for endorsement consideration. (Please note, all questions must be completed to be considered for endorsement.)” [Kentucky Right to Life, viewed 3/3/23]
The Only Possible Responses On The Candidate Questionnaire Were “Yes Or No.” [Kentucky Right to Life, viewed 3/3/23]
Question 1 Of The Survey Asked If Candidates Would Support A “Human Life Amendment” To The U.S. Constitution Which Would Treat Unborn Fetuses The Same As Human Beings. According to the KRTL Candidate Questionnaire, “1. On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court overturned the 1973 law by which the U.S. Supreme Court had legalized abortion on demand resulting to date in the destruction of 64 million preborn babies. If you were in a position to do so, would you support a Human Life Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would, with respect to the right to life, treat as ‘persons’ all human beings, born and unborn, regardless of age, health or condition of dependency?” [Kentucky Right to Life, viewed 3/6/23]
Question 2 On The Candidate Questionnaire Asked If The Candidates Were “Morally And Medically” Opposed To Medication Abortions, And If The Candidates Would “Advocate, Support, Sign Into Law And/OR Defend Banning Mail Order Abortion Drugs.” According to the KRTL Candidate Questionnaire, “2a. Are you morally and/or medically opposed to chemical abortions, such as RU-486, the abortion pill, and other drugs known to prevent the newly created human being from attaching (implantation) to his/her mother’s womb or medications that cause the woman’s body to expel her developing child in the early stages of her pregnancy? […] 2b. If you are in a position to do so, would you advocate, support, sign into law and/or defend banning mail order abortion drugs, i.e. chemical abortion medications/RU-486 and the distribution thereof in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and requiring that women seeking to terminate their pregnancy be seen and treated by a licensed physician?” [Kentucky Right to Life, viewed 3/6/23]
Question 3 Asked If Candidates Would Support “Conscience Clauses” That Would Allow Healthcare Providers To Opt Out Of Participating In Any Type Of Abortion. According to the KRTL Candidate Questionnaire, “3. If you are in a position to do so, would you advocate, support, sign into law and/or defend expanding and updating conscience clauses allowing all health care providers and pharmacists to opt out of participation in any type of induced or elective abortion, including surgical, chemical and medical? Such a conscience clause would necessarily include a provision that these employees could not be overlooked for promotions or raises based on their refusal to participate in abortions.” [Kentucky Right to Life, viewed 3/6/23]
Question 4 Asked Candidates If They Believed Medical Schools And Nursing Programs Should Have “Conscience Exceptions” That Would Permit Medical Students To Be Excused From Participating In Abortions If It Violated Their Beliefs. According to the KRTL Candidate Questionnaire, “4. Do you believe medical schools and nursing programs operating in conjunction with universities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky that receive State funding should have mechanisms in place such as conscience exceptions that permit students to be excused from participating in specific curricular activities and training, i.e. abortion procedures that violate the student’s religious or ethical beliefs?” [Kentucky Right to Life, viewed 3/6/23]
Question 5 Asked If Candidates Would Support Medical And Nursing Programs Having Formal Written Policies That Would Grant Exemptions For Students To Not Participate In Abortions If It Violated Their Beliefs. According to the KRTL Candidate Questionnaire, “5. If elected, and if you are in a position to do so, would you advocate, support, sign into law and/or defend legislation that requires universities offering medical and nursing programs to have in place formal written policies that govern the granting of an exemption, including the procedures to obtain an exemption and the mechanism to deal with matters of conscience such as abortion that violate the student’s religious or ethical beliefs?” [Kentucky Right to Life, viewed 3/6/23]
Questions 6 And 7 Asked If Candidates Supported Exceptions To Abortion Bans For Rape Or Incest. According to the KRTL Candidate Questionnaire, “6. Do you believe that a child conceived as a result of rape or incest is any less human, has any less dignity than a child conceived in the loving embrace of their parents? […] 7. Do you believe that a child conceived as a result of sexual assault should be protected by the same laws protecting the lives of children conceived naturally?” [Kentucky Right to Life, viewed 3/6/23]
Question 8 Asked If Candidates Supported The “Complete Removal Of Federal, State, And Local Tax Funds From Support For The Abortion Industry.” According to the KRTL Candidate Questionnaire, “8. Do you support the complete removal of federal, state and local tax funds from support for the abortion industry?” [Kentucky Right to Life, viewed 3/6/23]
Question 9 Asked If Candidates Would Support Redirecting All Family Planning Grants To Agencies And Healthcare Providers That Do Not Offer Abortions. According to the KRTL Candidate Questionnaire, “9. If you are in a position to do so, would you advocate, support, sign into law and/or defend appropriation measures redirecting all ‘family planning’ grants to agencies and health care providers who provide alternatives to abortions and who do not perform, counsel or refer for abortions?” [Kentucky Right to Life, viewed 3/6/23]
Question 10 Asked If Candidates Would Advocate For The Prohibition Of “Cloning Human Embryos” For Reproduction Or Research. According to the KRTL Candidate Questionnaire, “10. If you are in a position to do so, would you advocate, support, sign into law and/or defend a legal prohibition on all human cloning, which is the cloning of human embryos either for reproduction or research?” [Kentucky Right to Life, viewed 3/6/23]
Question 11 Asked If The State Should “Provide Protections For Nascent Humans Against Biological Research.” According to the KRTL Candidate Questionnaire, “11. Do you believe the state should provide protections for nascent humans against biological research?” [Kentucky Right to Life, viewed 3/6/23]
Question 13 Asked If Candidates Would Advocate For And Support Measures To Protect “Living Human Embryos (I.E. In-Vitro Fertilization) From Being Used For Medical Experiments.” According to the KRTL Candidate Questionnaire, “13. If you are in a position to do so, would you advocate, support, sign into law and/or defend measures to protect living human embryos (i.e. in-vitro fertilization) from being used for medical experiments?” [Kentucky Right to Life, viewed 3/6/23]
Question 17 Asked If A Pro-life Bill Was Not Called Up In Committee, If The Candidate Would Sign A Discharge Petition So The Bill Could Receive A “Fair Hearing And Vote.” According to the KRTL Candidate Questionnaire, “17. If the chairman of a committee to which a ProLife bill is assigned does not call it up, would you, as a member of the committee, sign a discharge petition so the bill could receive a fair hearing and vote?” [Kentucky Right to Life, viewed 3/6/23]
Question 18 Asked If The Candidates Would Decline Supporting Other Candidates For Their Pro-Choice Position. According to the KRTL Candidate Questionnaire, “18. Would you decline supporting any candidate for legislative or political office, regardless of party, because of his/her pro-abortion (‘pro-choice’) position?” [Kentucky Right to Life, viewed 3/6/23]