Highlights:
Daniels Refused To Answer When Asked About The Impact Of Indiana’s Near-Total Ban On Abortion For The State And His University. According to Politico, “Wren: Indiana’s general assembly passed, and Gov. Eric Holcomb signed into law a near-total ban on abortion recently, becoming the first state to do so in a post-Roe country. Eli Lilly, Cummins and other companies have said they are going to expand elsewhere now. Are you concerned about economic harm to Indiana? Or even declining enrollment at Purdue from would-be out-of-state enrollees?’ Daniels: ‘I honestly don’t know. I don’t know.’” [Politico, 8/19/22]
NPR: Indiana Implemented “A Sweeping Ban On Most Abortions” With Limited Exceptions For Life Of The Mother And Rape Or Incest. According to NPR, “A sweeping ban on most abortions is scheduled to take effect today in Indiana. It would prohibit abortions at any point during pregnancy except if the woman's life or health is seriously at risk. Abortion would be permitted before 22 weeks of pregnancy if a ‘lethal fetal anomaly’ is detected, or until 12 weeks of pregnancy in cases of rape or incest.” [NPR, 8/11/23]
Daniels Said He Would Do Anything in His Power to Reduce Abortions. According to the Courier-Journal, “Daniels said he would do anything in the governor’s power to reduce the number of [abortions.]” [Courier-Journal, 4/23/04]
Daniels Signed A Law Making Indiana The First State To Cut Off Public Funding To Planned Parenthood. According to NBC News, “Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels signed a measure Tuesday imposing some of the nation's tightest restrictions on abortions and making Indiana the first state to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood. […] The law cuts off about $3 million in public funds used to pay for services such as birth control, cancer screening and tests for sexually transmitted diseases.” [NBC News, 5/11/11]
Daniels’ Anti-Abortion Law Also Banned Abortion After 20 Weeks Of Pregnancy With Limited Exceptions. According to NBC News, “It also bans abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy unless there is a substantial threat to the woman's life or health. That's four weeks less than previously allowed.” [NBC News, 5/11/11]
Planned Parenthood Said The Law Daniels Signed Was Projected To Leave 22,000 Patients Without Access To Care For Non-Abortion Services. According to NBC News, “Planned Parenthood says the measure is unconstitutional and violates federal law. It says 22,000 patients could be left without access to Pap tests and other non-abortion services.” [NBC News, 5/11/11]
Daniels Signed An Anti-Abortion Law Which Put Indiana At Risk Of Losing $4 Million In Federal Funding. According to NBC News, “The law puts Indiana at risk of losing $4 million a year in federal family planning grants.” [NBC News, 5/11/11]
Indiana Right To Life President Fichter: “Governor Daniels Has Now Established Indiana As One Of The Leading Pro-Life States In The Nation.” According to NBC News, “Indiana Right to Life President Mike Fichter said Planned Parenthood was trying to use a ‘delay tactic’ to keep public funding coming as long as possible. He said he was confident the law would stand. ‘Governor Daniels has now established Indiana as one of the leading pro-life states in the nation,’ he said in a statement Tuesday.” [NBC News, 5/11/11]
Daniels Signed Legislation Requiring People Be Told About Ultrasound Imaging Before Obtaining An Abortion. According to the Indianapolis Star, “On April 20, 2005 Governor Daniels signed into law Senate Bill 76, the so-called ‘ultrasound bill.’ The measure requires that women contemplating an abortion be told about ultrasound imaging before making a decision, amending the state’s informed-consent law. […] Announced as ‘Indiana’s pro-life governor,’ Daniels drew applause when he said the law would allow a woman seeking an abortion ‘to see and hear the beating heart of the baby she’s carrying.’ Daniels announced ‘making abortion more rare’ as a goal of his administration and called abortion opponents ‘the most selfless of all advocacy groups.’” [Indianapolis Star, 4/20/05]
Daniels Supported The “Choose Life” License Plate To Discourage People From Abortions. According to the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, “On June 1, 2006, Indiana Right to Life issued a statement celebrating the approval of ‘choose life’ license plates and thanking Governor Daniels for his support. [Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, 6/2/06]
Sales Of The License Plates Went To Anti-Abortion Centers. According to the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, “The centers that will receive funding from plate sales will offer free pregnancy tests, free counseling and free information on the risks of, and alternatives to, abortion.’” [Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, 6/2/06]
Daniels Said He Would “Reinstate” The Global Gag Rule. According to Real Clear Politics, “‘I would reinstate the Mexico City policy,’ Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels told me, removing an uncertainty of his own creation. Promoting abortion with international family planning funds is one of ‘a thousand things we shouldn't be spending money on.’” [Real Clear Politics, 6/18/10]
Obama Signed An Executive Order To Reverse The Mexico City Policy Which Restricted Federal Funding For International Organizations Which May Promote Or Provide Abortions Overseas. According to the New York Times, “President Obama repealed rules on Friday that restricted federal money for international organizations that promote or provide abortions overseas, sweeping aside a pillar of the social policy architecture of George W. Bush’s presidency. The executive order that Mr. Obama signed reverses one of the first measures enacted by Mr. Bush when he took over the White House eight years ago and capped an opening-week flurry of action intended to signal a sharp break from the past in domestic and foreign arenas. ‘For the past eight years, they have undermined efforts to promote safe and effective voluntary family planning in developing countries,’ Mr. Obama said of the restrictions. ‘For these reasons, it is right for us to rescind this policy and restore critical efforts to protect and empower women and promote global economic development.’” [New York Times, 1/24/09]
Daniels Was Praised By Right To Life Organization As “Most Pro-Life Governor” To Serve In Indiana: According to the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, “At Daniels re-election announcement Cathie Humbarger, the communications director for Indiana Right to Life, said: ‘Mitch Daniels is the most pro-life governor in the history of the state of Indiana, and we’re here to support him.’” [Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, 6/17/07]