¶ Abortion
¶ Quarles Said He Was Produly Pro-Life
Quarles said “I’m Proud To Be Pro-Life” And “I’m Proud Of The Pro-Life Legislature.” According to Quarles' Twitter, “I stand with all those Americans who marched for life today. I’m proud to be pro-life and I’m proud of the pro-life legislature we have in Kentucky.” [Twitter, @KYAgCommish, 1/21/22]
Quarles Called On Supporters To “Take A Stand To Defend The Lives” Of “Unborn Lives.” According to Quarles' Twitter, “Although this year's national March for Life went virtual, you can still speak out and take a stand to defend the lives of those whom are unable to do so themselves. Today, I hope you join me in praying for the unborn lives lost to abortion. #WhyWeMarch” [Twitter, @KYAgCommish, 1/29/21]
¶ Quarles Supported The Dobbs Decision
Quarles Said He Was Praying During The Dobbs Decision For “The Constitution To Prevail.” According to Quarles' Twitter, “As the Supreme Court has finished hearing oral arguments in the Dobbs case, I join pro-life Americans across our country and state praying for the unborn and for the Constitution to prevail.” [Twitter, @KYAgCommish, 12/1/21]
¶ Quarles Supported Kentucky’s Anti-Abortion Constiutional Ammendment Ballot Question
Quarles Joined Yes For Life Alliance Members To Introduce A Pro-Life Constitution Amendment. According to The News-Enterprise, “The Yes for Life Alliance launched its campaign Friday to pass a pro-life Constitutional Amendment that was placed on the 2022 ballot by the General Assembly. Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, expected to be a Republican candidate for governor in 2023, joined the Yes for Life leaders at a news conference at the Kentucky State Fair to introduce the new organization.” [News-Enterprise, 8/21/21]
2023: Quarles 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]