Highlights:
Utah Legislature: HB 90 Meant That Abortions Performed On “Viable” Fetuses Constituted The Second Degree Felony Offense Of “Killing An Unborn Child.” According to the Utah State Legislature Office of Legislative Research, “HB 90 Abortion Law Amendments Ray, P. This bill amends portions of the Utah Criminal Code relating to abortion. […] • defines the term ‘viable’; • provides that an abortion may only be performed in this state if: the unborn child is not viable; or the unborn child is viable, if the abortion is necessary to avert the death of the woman on whom the abortion is performed, the abortion is necessary to avert a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the woman, two physicians who practice maternal fetal medicine concur, in writing, that the fetus has a defect that is uniformly diagnosable and uniformly lethal, or the woman is pregnant as a result of rape, rape of a child, or incest; • provides that a violation of the provisions in the preceding paragraph constitute the second degree felony offense of ‘killing an unborn child[.]’” [Utah State Legislature, 2009 General Session Selected Highlights, 3/13/09]
HB 90 Made Second-Trimester Abortions Illegal. According to LifeNews.com, “On Friday, Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr., signed three pro-life bills to help limit abortions in the state. […] The first measure, HB 90, makes second-trimester abortions illegal and ups the penalty for doing an illegal later-term abortion to a second degree felony from a third degree felony.” [LifeNews.com, 3/24/09]
Huntsman: “I Signed The Bill That Made Second-Trimester Abortions Illegal, And Increased The Penalty For Doing So.” According to CBS News, “Potential GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, the former Utah governor and U.S. ambassador to China, told conservative activists Friday that Republicans should not focus on fiscal issues over ‘life’ - that is, opposition to abortion rights. […] In his remarks, Huntsman spotlighted his record on abortion, saying he ‘signed every pro-life bill that came to my desk’ as governor. ‘I signed the bill that made second-trimester abortions illegal, and increased the penalty for doing so,’ he continued.” [CBS News, 6/3/11]
HB 90 Upped The Penalty For Third-Trimester Abortions, Already Illegal In The State Of Utah, From A Second-Degree To Third-Degree Felony. According to LifeNews.com, “On Friday, Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr., signed three pro-life bills to help limit abortions in the state. […] The first measure, HB 90, makes second-trimester abortions illegal and ups the penalty for doing an illegal later-term abortion to a second degree felony from a third degree felony.” [LifeNews.com, 3/24/09]
Huntsman Signed HB 222, Which Required Abortion Practitioners To Tell Women The Fetus Will Feel Pain During An Abortion As Part Of Effort To Reduce Abortions. According to LifeNews.com, “On Friday, Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr., signed three pro-life bills to help limit abortions in the state. […] HB 222 is a bill to allow women to know about the pain an abortion will cause to their unborn child. The bill requires abortion practitioners to tell women about the pain their baby will feel during an abortion. The measure is another effort to help reduce abortions until the day comes that unborn children are protected under law. […] The bill allows women considering an abortion to provide anesthesia to the baby beforehand, which helps underscore how the abortion will hurt the baby. It allows them 24 hours to consider the pain information before going through with the abortion.” [LifeNews.com, 3/24/09]
Utah Legislature: HB 222 Required Physicians Performing An Abortion To Provide Information Relating To Fetal Pain And Offer An Anesthetic. According to the Utah State Legislature Office of Legislative Research, “HB 222 Unborn Child Pain Prevention Act Wimmer, C. This bill amends provisions of the Utah Criminal Code relating to abortion. • requires that at least 24 hours before a physician performs an abortion of an unborn child who is at least 20 weeks gestational age, the woman on whom the abortion is performed shall, except when a medical emergency exists and there is not adequate time to comply with the requirements of this bill, be informed: that, upon the woman's request, an anesthetic or analgesic will be administered to the unborn child, through the woman, to eliminate or alleviate organic pain to the unborn child; […] • requires the Department of Health to produce a brochure that: subject to certain exceptions, is to be provided to a woman seeking an abortion of an unborn child who is at least 20 weeks gestational age; and includes information relating to the ability of an unborn child to experience pain during an abortion procedure and the methods of alleviating or eliminating that pain[.]” [Utah State Legislature, 2009 General Session Selected Highlights, 3/13/09]
In An Amicus Brief In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, American Health Organizations Argued The “Fetal Pain” Concern Had Been Rejected By Medical Consensus And Was Found To Be Scientifically Unfounded. According to the American Medical Association et al’s amicus brief in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, “Mississippi attempts to distract from the fact that its Ban unconstitutionally prohibits abortion well before viability by alleging concerns about “fetal pain.” But, in asserting any interest in preventing ‘fetal pain’ to justify its fifteen-week ban, Pet. Br. 44, Mississippi attempts to manufacture a concern that medical consensus rejects as scientifically unfounded. There is no credible scientific evidence of fetal pain perception previability, and certainly none at fifteen weeks LMP, approximately two months before a fetus approaches viability.” [Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, Amicus Brief from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists et al, September 2021]
Every Major Medical Organization That Has Examined The Issue Of Fetal Pain Have Consistently Reached The Conclusion That Pre-Viability Abortion Does Not Result In Fetal Pain. According to the American Medical Association et al’s amicus brief in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, “Every major medical organization that has examined the issue of fetal pain and peer-reviewed studies on the matter have consistently reached the conclusion that pre-viability abortion does not result in fetal pain perception.” [Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, Amicus Brief from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists et al, September 2021]
Amicus Brief Was Signed Onto By The American College Of Obstetricians And Gynecologists, American Medical Association, And The American Academy Of Family Physicians, Among Others. According to the American Medical Association et al’s amicus brief in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, “BRIEF OF AMICI CURIAE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS, AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSING, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH PHYSICIANS, ET AL. IN SUPPORT OF RESPONDENTS” [Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, Amicus Brief from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists et al, September 2021]
Huntsman Signed A Bill Requiring Parental Notification For A Minor To Get An Abortion. According to CBS News, “In his remarks, Huntsman spotlighted his record on abortion, saying he ‘signed every pro-life bill that came to my desk’ as governor. ‘I signed the bill that made second-trimester abortions illegal, and increased the penalty for doing so,’ he continued. ‘I signed the bill to allow women to know the pain an abortion causes an unborn child. I signed the bill requiring parental permission for abortion.’” [CBS News, 6/3/11]
ACLU: Parental Notification Laws Put The Health And Safety Of Minors At Risk, While Failing To Increase Family Communication. According to the ACLU, “Many states have considered or adopted laws that would prevent teens under 18 from obtaining an abortion unless they involve a parent or go to court. These laws take two forms: Some require a clinic or physician to obtain the consent of a teen’s parent(s) before the teen’s abortion; others require a parent(s) to be notified before the procedure. Although everyone hopes that teens can turn to their parents when faced with an unintended pregnancy, and in fact most teens do so, laws preventing teens from obtaining health care unless they can talk to a parent put their health and safety at risk and do not increase family communication.” [ACLU, 4/1/01]
ACLU: Majorities Of Minors Seeking Abortions Involved Parents, With The Minority Who Did Not Generally Having Dysfunctional Or Volatile Family Situations. According to the ACLU, “A majority of minors who have abortions do so with at least one parent’s knowledge. Based on a national survey of more than 1,500 unmarried minors having abortions in states without parental involvement laws, 61% of young women discussed the decision to have an abortion with at least one of their parents. […] The minority of teens who do not voluntarily consult a parent generally have good reasons not to. Many come from families where such an announcement would only exacerbate an already volatile or dysfunctional family situation. […] One study showed that 22% of teens who did not tell a parent about their abortion decision feared that, if they told their parents, they would be kicked out of the house. More than 8% feared that they would be physically abused because their parents had beaten them before.” [ACLU, 4/1/01]
ACLU: Social Science Research Found No Evidence Mandating Parental Involvement Increased The Rate Of Teens Telling Their Parents About Pregnancies And Planned Abortions. According to the ACLU, “For teens who feel they cannot safely turn to their parents, government coercion doesn’t change anything. There is no evidence that mandating parental involvement actually increases the rate at which teens tell their parents about their pregnancies and planned abortions. (Robert Wm. Blum, et al., ‘The Impact of a Parental Notification Law on Adolescent Abortion Decision-Making,’ 77 American Journal of Public Health 619, 620 (1987).) As the New Jersey Supreme Court found when it held that state’s parental notice law unconstitutional, a law ‘cannot transform a household with poor lines of communication into a paradigm of the perfect American family.’ (Planned Parenthood v. Farmer, 762 A.2d 620, 637 (N.J. 2000).)” [ACLU, 4/1/01]
Huntsman Signed Legislation Which Created A Legal Defense Fund To Defend A Future Abortion Ban In Court. According to the Daily Caller, “Evidence of Huntsman’s pro-life record can be found in three bills he signed into law while governor of Utah in 2009 that made second-trimester abortions illegal, required abortion practitioners to inform women of the pain their unborn babies would feel during an abortion, and created a legal defense fund to defend a future abortion ban.” [Daily Caller, 3/31/11]
Huntsman: “I Signed The Bill That Would Trigger A Ban On Abortions If Roe v. Wade Were Overturned.” According to the Washington Examiner, “Ralph Reed, organizer of the Faith and Freedom Conference, introduced former Utah governor Jon Huntsman this morning as ‘a good conservative and a great friend.’ […] He then rattled off his pro-life record: ‘As governor of Utah, I supported and signed every pro-life bill that came to my desk. I signed the bill that made second trimesters illegal and increased the penalty for doing so. I signed the bill to allow women to know about the pain abortion causes an unborn child. I signed the bill requiring parental permission for abortion. I signed the bill that would trigger a ban on abortions if Roe v. Wade were overturned.’” [Washington Examiner, 6/3/11]
2011: Huntsman Said He Supported A Constitutional Ban On Abortion. According to Roll Call, “The former Utah governor and ambassador to China under President Barack Obama said without hesitation during an extensive interview with conservative radio talk-show host Hugh Hewitt that he would not veto legislation to ban assault weapons. […] That email followed this exchange, which occurred as part of a longer interview focused on Huntsman’s background and spanning several subjects that are typically covered during a question-and-answer session with a Republican presidential primary candidate. Hewitt: ‘Governor, let’s close with four quick issue sets to get you located on the political map. Do you support a right to life amendment?’ Huntsman: ‘I do support a right to life amendment.’” [Roll Call, 6/9/11]
2012: The Republican Party Platform Included A Call For A “Human Life Amendment,” Which Gave Legal Protections To The Unborn. According to Politico, “Even as Mitt Romney sought to quash the furor surrounding Todd Akin’s ‘legitimate’ rape comments, the Republican platform committee here approved an abortion plank that includes no exemptions for rape, incest or even to save the life of the mother. The platform committee instead approved draft language Tuesday, calling for a ‘Human Life Amendment’ that gives legal protection to the unborn.” [Politico, 8/22/12]
The “Human Life Amendment” Said Fourteenth Amendment Protections Would Apply To The Unborn And The Amendment Had No Exceptions For Rape, Incest, Or To Save The Life Of The Mother. According to Politico, “Even as Mitt Romney sought to quash the furor surrounding Todd Akin’s ‘legitimate’ rape comments, the Republican platform committee here approved an abortion plank that includes no exemptions for rape, incest or even to save the life of the mother. […] The abortion language approved Tuesday endorses legislation that would say the 14th Amendment applies after conception and that would oppose using public funds to pay for abortions. It urges Congress to strengthen the Born Alive Infant Protection Act of 2002 by adding civil and criminal penalties for doctors who don’t adequately care for newborn babies. It supports a ban on sex-selective abortions. It also calls for mandatory waiting periods and parental consent requirements.” [Politico, 8/22/12]
In A Speech To Social Conservatives, Huntsman Argued The Republican Party Should Not Focus Purely On Economic Arguments But On Anti-Abortion Policy. According to Politico, “Jon Huntsman aimed straight for the social conservative base in his speech to the Faith and Freedom Conference in Washington on Friday, reminding the hundreds of activists there of his record in Utah opposing abortion and urging Republicans to put life at the forefront. ‘I do not believe the Republican Party should focus only on our economic life to the neglect of our human life,’ Huntsman said Friday morning. ‘That is a trade we should not make. If Republicans ignore life, the deficit we will face is one that is much more destructive.’” [Politico, 6/3/11]
Huntsman Said He “Supported And Signed Every Pro-Life Bill” That Came To His Desk As Governor Of Utah. According to Politico, “Jon Huntsman aimed straight for the social conservative base in his speech to the Faith and Freedom Conference in Washington on Friday, reminding the hundreds of activists there of his record in Utah opposing abortion and urging Republicans to put life at the forefront. […] Saying he ‘supported and signed every pro-life bill’ that appeared on his desk, Huntsman leaned heavily on his record as governor to make his case that he should not be dismissed as a social moderate — one of the most common lines of attack issued against his prospective presidential candidacy.” [Politico, 6/3/11]
VIDEO: Huntsman Boasted Of Signing Trigger Laws, Second-Trimester Abortion Criminalization, And Speech Impositions On Abortion Providers. According to Reproductive Freedom for All, “When running for president, he touted extreme pro-life views: trigger laws banning abortion after Roe, tougher criminalization for abortion-seekers, and a bill forcing ‘women to know the pain an abortion causes an unborn child.’” [Twitter, @ReproForAll, 9/18/23]
Michael Brendan Dougherty, Writing For The American Conservative: Huntsman Was The “Pro-Life Cause’s Most Accomplished Executive.” According to a Michael Brendan Dougherty column in the American Conservative, “Huntsman may be the pro-life cause’s most accomplished executive. He signed bills banning second-trimester abortions, reclassifying third-trimester abortions as a third-degree felony, and requiring abortion providers to explain the pain unborn children can experience during abortion.” [American Conservative, Michael Brendan Doughtery, 8/23/11]
Dougherty Praised Huntsman For “Banning Second-Trimester Abortions” And “Reclassifying Third-Trimester Abortions As A Third-Degree Felony.” According to a Michael Brendan Dougherty column in the American Conservative, “Huntsman may be the pro-life cause’s most accomplished executive. He signed bills banning second-trimester abortions, reclassifying third-trimester abortions as a third-degree felony, and requiring abortion providers to explain the pain unborn children can experience during abortion.” [American Conservative, Michael Brendan Doughtery, 8/23/11]