Hogan Said Maryland Referendum Legalizing Abortion Was Still In Effect Following Dobbs Decision. According to WBAL, “A spokesman for Gov. Larry Hogan sent a statement to 11 News, saying, ‘In 1992, Maryland voters approved a constitutional referendum legalizing and protecting access to abortion as a matter of state law -- that measure remains in effect today following the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson. I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of Maryland, and that is what I have always done and will continue to do as governor.’” [WBAL, 6/24/22]
1980: Hogan Publically Supported His Father’s Efforts To Ban Abortion In County Hospitals Except To Save Life Of Mother. According to the Washington Post, “On abortion, for example, he [Hogan] was publicly supportive of his father’s efforts in 1980 to ban abortions at county hospitals, except in cases where the life of the mother was at risk, according to news accounts at the time. [Washington Post, 8/14/14]
Hogan Supported Order By His Father, Prince George’s County Executive, To Ban Abortion In County Hospitals Except To Save Life Of Mother. According to the Baltimore Sun, “Some 35 years ago, Hogan supported an order by his father, then the Prince George's County executive, to ban abortion in county hospitals except to save the life of the mother.” [Baltimore Sun, 9/27/14]
1981: Hogan Supported “Human Life Amendment” To U.S. Constitution During Congressional Run. According to the Washington Post, “During a 1981 run for Congress, Hogan said he supported a ‘human life amendment’ to the U.S. Constitution.” [Washington Post, 8/14/14]
1992: Hogan Supported Parental Notification For Abortion And 24-Hour Waiting Period. According to the Washington Post, “In a 1992 voter guide, he said he supported both parental notification for a minor seeking an abortion and a 24-hour waiting period after an initial consultation.” [Washington Post, 8/14/14]
1992: Hogan Modified Position And Favored Keeping Abortion Legal While Allowing States To Restrict. According to the Baltimore Sun, “An article in The Sun in 1992, when Hogan again ran for Congress, reported he had modified his position and favored keeping abortion legal while allowing states to restrict it.” [Baltimore Sun, 9/27/14]
In 2014 Gubernatorial Race, Hogan Successfully Countered Attacks That He Was A Threat To Women’s Health Choices. According to the Baltimore Sun, “The Democrats' attack ads are based on Hogan comments from 1980 and 1981 in which he supported a ban on abortions at a Prince George's County hospital except to save the life of the mother, as well as a "human life amendment" that would have barred abortions while possibly outlawing some forms of birth control. By 1992, Hogan had modified those positions and said abortion should remain legal. Today Hogan says that he is still personally opposed to abortion, but he pledges he will not try to change Maryland's laws protecting women's rights to the procedure nor to limit access to contraception. He has branded Brown's ads as lies.” [Baltimore Sun, 10/1/14]
Hogan Refused To Comment On Hobby Lobby Contraception Supreme Court Decision. According to the Washington Post, “Maryland Republican gubernatorial nominee Larry Hogan remained mum Wednesday on a U.S. Supreme Court decision affecting access to contraception as liberal interest groups sought to press him for a position. […] A Baltimore television station reported that Hogan had no comment on the decision on Monday, the day the court ruled on the case brought by Hobby Lobby, an arts-and-crafts chain that a co-founder has said is run on biblical principles. Hogan spokesman Adam Dubitsky said Wednesday that Hogan, an Anne Arundel County businessman, does not think the court case is an issue in Maryland’s race for governor. ‘We’re going to stay focused on turning around the economy and putting women and men back to work,’ Dubitsky said.” [Washington Post, 7/2/14]
Hogan Said He Is “For Unfettered Access To Birth Control.” According to the Washington Post, “After criticism from abortion rights groups and Maryland Democrats, Hogan said he is ‘for unfettered access to birth control for every single woman in Maryland.’” [Washington Post, 8/14/14
Hogan Passed Comprehensive Insurance Coverage Law As Governor. According to the Washington Post, “Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) signed 196 bills into law Tuesday, including one that advocates say will provide ‘the most comprehensive insurance coverage for contraception in the country.’ Many states have enacted laws addressing some aspects of the bill that Maryland lawmakers approved, Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Heather Ford said. But no other state has a law that includes all the provisions in Maryland’s ‘Contraceptive Equity Act,’ which prohibits insurers from charging co-payments for contraceptive drugs, procedures and devices approved by the federal government. Among its provisions, the law — which takes effect in January 2018 — eliminates the co-payment for vasectomies. It makes Maryland the first state to require insurance coverage for over-the-counter contraceptive medications, such as the morning-after pill.” [Washington Post, 5/10/16]
Hogan Said He Would Not Act As Governor To Restrict Reproductive Rights, Said Abortion Was Decided In Mayland 1992 Referendum. According to Baltimore Sun, “In the current campaign, Hogan has repeatedly stressed that while he is still opposed to abortion, he would not act as governor to restrict women's reproductive rights. He has declared that Maryland voters decided the abortion issue in a 1992 referendum. He also says now that he would protect a woman's "unfettered" access to birth control.” [Baltimore Sun, 9/27/14]
Hogan Has Said Abortion Is Settled And He Would Not Seek To Change Laws Around It. According to the Associated Press, “Although Trump has suggested he will appoint Supreme Court judges to overturn Roe v. Wade and make abortion a state issue, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican who is personally anti-abortion, has said in the past the issue of abortion is settled and he would not try to change it in Maryland.” [Associated Press via Nexis, 12/2/16]
Hogan Withdraw Name Of Anti-Abortion Nominee For Board Of Physicians Following Criticism. According to the Daily Record, “A nominee to the state Board of Physicians has been withdrawn by Gov. Larry Hogan following criticism of the appointee‘s stance on abortion. Gov. Larry Hogan said he withdrew Day Gardner‘s nomination just two days after the Democratic-controlled Senate Executive Nominations Committee voted to recommend her confirmation. We have withdrawn her nomination, Hogan said Wednesday in response to questions about Gardner. There‘s no litmus test that says every single person that fills all of our 7,000 appointments has to believe the same way. Just because the woman happened to be pro-life instead of pro-choice wasn‘t enough reason to attack her. […] Gardner has strongly advocated against doctors who have performed abortions. And while she would have been one of 22 members of the board that investigates complaints against doctors, members of the Senate committee, including Sen. William Bill Ferguson, D-Baltimore City and chair of the panel, expressed concerns about her ability to act in an unbiased fashion.” [Daily Record, 3/15/17]
Hogan Allowed Legislation To Pass Without Signature That Would Fund Planned Parenthood On State Level If Defunded Federally. According to the Washington Post, “Maryland became the first state in the nation to agree to reimburse Planned Parenthood clinics for their services if Congress defunds the organization, after Republican Gov. Larry Hogan allowed the bill to become law Thursday without his signature.” [Washington Post, 4/8/17]
Hogan Said He Trusted Voters To “Make The Right Decision” On Adding Right To Abortion To Maryland Constitution. According to the Daily Record, “Republican Gov. Larry Hogan said he trusts voters to ‘make the right decision’ when it comes to adding proposed protections to abortion to the Maryland Constitution. House Speaker Michael Busch's announcement of legislation to change the state constitution brings back a campaign issue from the 2014 gubernatorial election. [Daily Record, 8/2/18]
Hogan Said He Was Not Sure Referendum On State Constitution Amendment To Codify Abortion Rights Was Necessary. According to the Washington Post, “Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican who personally opposes abortion, said that he is not sure a referendum is necessary but that letting voters decide ‘sounds like a great idea.’ Ben Jealous, his Democratic opponent, vowed to campaign in support of the amendment.” [Washington Post, 8/2/18]
Hogan Said “Great Idea” To Let Voters Decide On State Constitution Amendment On Abortion. According to the Washington Post, “Hogan said Maryland has ‘pretty tough laws already that protect the right to an abortion. . . . I don’t know that [a constitutional amendment is] necessary, but if they want to put it on the ballot to let voters decide, that sounds like a great idea. I trust the voters of Maryland to make the right decision.’” [Washington Post, 8/2/18]
Maryland Passed Legislation To Reject Title X Funds If They Came With Prohibitions On Abortion Referrals And Require State Funds Be Used Instead. According to the Associated Press, “In a countermeasure to a proposed Trump administration rule, Maryland would become the first state to stop participating in a federal family planning program known as Title X, under a bill that received final approval Wednesday in the Maryland General Assembly. The Maryland Senate voted 28-16 for the measure, sending the bill to Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, whose spokesman said the governor would review the bill before deciding whether to sign it.” [Associated Press, 4/3/19]
Hogan Allowed Bill Requiring Maryland To Reject Title X Funds If Came With Prohibitions On Abortions To Become Law Without His Signature. According to the Daily Record, “State legislators also have pushed back against the new regulations, passing a bill that would require Maryland to reject Title X funds if they came with prohibitions on abortion referrals and requiring the state to supply the funds instead. Last month, Gov. Larry Hogan allowed the bill to become law without his signature.” [Daily Record, 6/4/19]
Maryland House Passed Legislation To Expand Access To Abortion And Protect Right To Abortion In Maryland State Constitution. According to the Baltimore Sun, “Legislation to expand access to abortions in Maryland and mandate that most health insurance plans cover the procedure cost-free for patients easily passed the House of Delegates on Friday, a step toward broadening access in Maryland even as the U.S. Supreme Court mulls allowing severe restrictions on abortion in other states. Delegates also backed enshrining the right to abortion — as part of ‘the fundamental right to reproductive liberty’ alongside contraception and prenatal care — in the state’s constitution, something that would require the approval of voters in November.” [Baltimore Sun, 3/11/22]
Proposal To Enshrine Right To Abortion In Maryland Constitution Failed To Advance In Maryland Senate. According to the Associated Press, “A proposal to enshrine the right to abortion in the Maryland Constitution failed to advance in the Maryland Senate on Friday, though other measures to expand access to providers moved forward.” [Associated Press, 3/25/22]
Hogan Said Texas Law Encouraging People To Turn In Anyone Who Aided In Abortion Was “A Little Bit Extreme.” According to POLITICO, “‘Certainly in this case, this bill in Texas seems to be a little bit extreme with this problem of bounties for people that turn in somebody that drove someone to an abortion clinic,’ Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said on ‘Meet the Press.’” [POLITICO, 9/5/21]
**Hogan Reiterated That He Was Personally Opposed To Abortion, And Said He Thought The Enforcement Mechanism For Texas’ SB 8 Law Was Extreme. **According to Forbes, “Hogan said on Meet the Press Sunday that despite being personally opposed to abortion and believing in some state-level restrictions, the Texas law seems to be a little bit extreme. The Maryland governor specifically pointed to the laws problem of bounties, as the Texas law known as Senate Bill 8 (SB 8) says government officials cannot enforce the law, but rather directs private citizens to file lawsuits against anyone who aids and abets an abortion and stipulates they can earn at least $10,000 in damages if they win.” [Forbes via Nexis, 9/5/21]
In Commenting on Texas’ SB 8 Anti-Abortion Law, Hogan Said He Believed States Had The Right To Pass Reasonable Restrictions And That Court Would Decide On Legality. According to Business Insider, “‘I happen to be personally opposed to abortion and I believe states do have rights to pass some reasonable restrictions,’ Hogan told NBC News' Chuck Todd on ‘Meet the Press’ Sunday. "But certainly, in this case, this bill in Texas, seems to be a little bit extreme with this problem of bounties for people that turn in somebody that drove someone to an abortion clinic. […] ‘So look, I think the courts, the Supreme Court will take this up, they haven't made the final determination on it,’ Hogan said Sunday. ‘Legislatures have rights to pass bills, governors have the right to sign them into law or not, and the court gets to make the ultimate decision.’” [Business Insider, 9/5/21]
Maryland General Assembly Passed Bill To Expand Access To Abortion By Allowing More Health Care Professionals To Provide Them, And Requiring Broader Insurance Coverage. According to the Associated Press, “The Maryland General Assembly passed a bill Tuesday that would expand access to abortion by ending a restriction that only physicians provide them and requiring most insurance plans to cover abortion care without cost. The Senate gave the measure final passage on a 28-15 vote.” [Associated Press, 3/30/22]
Hogan’s Office Had No Immediate Comment On Newly-Passed Abortion Legislation. According to the Associated Press, “The Maryland General Assembly passed a bill Tuesday that would expand access to abortion by ending a restriction that only physicians provide them and requiring most insurance plans to cover abortion care without cost. […] That sends the measure to Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, whose office did not immediately comment on his position on the bill. The governor has said he personally opposes abortion, though he has called the issue settled law in the state.” [Associated Press, 3/30/22]
New Maryland Abortion Providers Bill Would Allow More Medical Professionals To Perform Abortions And Directed $3.5 Million A Year For Abortion-Care Training. According to the New York Times, “Under the new law, which will take effect July 1, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and trained physician assistants will be able to perform abortions. The law will also require most insurance providers in the state to cover the cost of an abortion, at no cost to the resident, and directs the state to invest $3.5 million a year into abortion-care training.” [New York Times, 4/10/22]
Hogan Committed Not To Take Any Action On Maryland Reproductive Legislation, Upheld Commitment With Veto Of New Abortion Legislation.[ According to a press release from Governor Hogan, “‘As governor, I have upheld my commitment to take no action that would affect Maryland law where it concerns reproductive rights. With this action, I am reaffirming that commitment. … The only impact that this bill would have on women’s reproductive rights would be to set back standards for women’s health care and safety.’” [Governor Larry Hogan Press Release, 4/8/22]
Hogan Vetoed Abortion Legislation Allowing Providers Besides Physicians To Perform Abortions Saying It Would “Set Back Standards For Women’s Health Care And Safety.” According to the Hill, “Hogan said in a letter to the state legislature announcing his veto on Friday that the bill would ‘set back standards for women’s health care and safety.’ He said physicians are ‘uniquely qualified’ to perform abortions due to their education and training and allowing other medical professionals such as nurse practitioners or midwives to do the procedure ‘risks lowering the high standard of reproductive health care services received by women in Maryland.’” [The Hill, 4/9/22]
Maryland Lawmakers Voted To Override Hogan Veto Of Abortion Bill Allowing Providers Besides Physicians To Perform Abortions, And Requiring Private Insurance To Cover Abortions. According to the Associated Press, “Maryland lawmakers voted to override Gov. Larry Hogan’s vetoes on Saturday of measures to create a paid family leave insurance program, expand access to abortion in the state and other bills. […] Maryland will end a restriction that only physicians perform abortions, enabling nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants with training to perform them. The state also will require private insurance plans, except those with legal exemptions, to cover abortions without cost-sharing or deductibles. The bill takes effect on July 1. Insurance provisions apply to all policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the state on or after Jan. 1, 2023.” [Associated Press, 4/9/22]
Maryland Lawmakers Voted To Override Hogan Veto, Maryland House By 90-46 And Maryland Senate By 29-15. According to NPR, “Maryland lawmakers voted over the weekend to override Gov. Larry Hogan's veto of a bill that would allow health practitioners outside of physicians — including nurse practitioners, midwives and physician's assistants — to perform abortions. Maryland House members voted 90-46 on Saturday to reverse the governor's decision, while state Senate members voted 29-15. Hogan is a Republican, while the majority of both the state's chambers are Democrats. The bill will now become law and take effect on July 1.” [NPR, 4/11/22]
Hogan Won’t Grant Request To Make $3.5 Million Available To Pay For Abortion Provider Training After He Vetoed Legislation In April. According to the Associated Press, “Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan won’t grant a request by the state’s comptroller on Wednesday to immediately make $3.5 million available to pay for training to prepare medical professionals other than physicians to perform abortions when a new law takes effect this summer, a spokesman said. Michael Ricci, the spokesman, said in a statement that the Republican governor ‘firmly believes, as stated in his veto of this partisan measure, that non-licensed physicians should not be performing these medical procedures.’” [Associated Press, 5/4/22]
Hogan Continued To Refuse To Spend Money Set Aside To Train New Abortion Providers, With Spokesman Saying Letter From State Lawmakers Criticizing Him Was “Misinformation.” According to the Washington Post, “Outraged by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s refusal this week to spend money set aside to train new abortion providers, Maryland Democrats launched a campaign pressuring him to reverse course. In letters to Hogan, statements to reporters and posts on social media, top Democrats have tried to lean on his sense of populism, imploring him to release $3.5 million they say the people who elected him want to see spent. ‘You have committed to treating reproductive rights as ‘settled law’ in Maryland, and yet in the face of grave threats, you appear to be failing to protect these rights for Marylanders,’ said a letter sent Friday signed by more than 80 state lawmakers. So far, Hogan is unmoved. ‘This is just misinformation,’ Hogan spokesman Michael Ricci said in an email.” [Washington Post, 5/6/22]
Hogan Doubled Down On Refusing To Release Early Money For Abortion Training. According to WBALTV, “But this year, the governor did take a position against this bill to expand access to abortion. The bill authorizes physician assistants, nurse practitioners and midwives to perform abortions. Hogan vetoed the bill and the Legislature overrode the veto. But, appearing Tuesday at an event for Nurses Week, Hogan reiterated his stance that he will not release money to pay for training this year. ‘First of all, what this bill did was lower the quality of care and allow people that aren't doctors to perform abortions. There is no money to be released, although the Legislature is trying to force us to spend money from a different part of the budget, which we are not going to do,’ Hogan said.” [WBALTV, 5/10/22]
Hogan Directed State Law Enforcement To Be Prepared To Assist With Increased Security For Supreme Court Justices Living In Maryland. According to Baltimore CBS Local, “Gov. Larry Hogan’s office issued a statement that reads in part: “The governor directed state law enforcement leaders to work with local and federal partners and be prepared to assist in the event there is a need for increased security and protective measures,” staff for Hogan said. [Baltimore CBS Local, 5/9/22]
Youngkin Announced He And Hogan Sent Letter To Attorney General Garland Urging Prosecution Of Demonstrators Outside Supreme Court Justices’ Homes. According to Fox News, “Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin revealed on ‘Your World’ Wednesday that he and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging him to prosecute those demonstrating outside the homes of Supreme Court justices over an anticipated ruling that could overturn Roe v. Wade. According to a copy of the letter obtained by Fox News, Youngkin and Hogan called on Garland to ‘provide appropriate resources to safeguard the justices and enforce the law as it is written." Both Republican governors offered their respective states' assistance to secure the justices' homes, but said they need Garland and the Department of Justice to ‘to take the lead.’ ‘There is simply too much at stake,’ the last line of the two-page letter reads.” [Fox News, 5/11/22]