Tom Ridge: A pro-choice moderate

Human Events, May 26, 2000

Abortion

Voted for funding for International Planned Parenthood, June 12, 1991.

Voted for allowing fetal tissue research with federal funds, July 21, 1991.

Voted for lifting the ban on federally funded fetal tissue research, May 28, 1992.

Voted to override President Bush's veto of the hill lifting the ban on federally funded fetal tissue research; June 24, 1992.

Voted to allow abortions on overseas military bases, Oct. 3; 1992.

Voted against requiring parental notification and a 48-hour waiting period before minors could get abortions from groups receiving federal funds, March 25, 1993.

Voted for Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE), used to prosecute peaceful abortion protesters; May 5, 1994.

In his first gubernatorial budget, restored state funding for Planned Parenthood that had been terminated by former Democratic Gov. Bob Casey.

Said on June 14, 1996, of the Reagan pro-life Republican platform plank, "It would be my preference to take it out or modify the language to be more inclusive."

Taxes and Spending

Ranked below the average House Republican in the National Taxpayers Union congressional rating system in 9 out of 11 years.

Voted for President Bush's budget resolution breaking his no-new-taxes pledge, Oct. 5; 1990.

Voted for the crime bill containing $30 billion in social spending, Aug. 21, 1994.

National Endowment for the Arts

Voted against an amendment forbidding the National Endowment for the Arts from funding obscene or blasphemous worlds; or those desecrating the American flag, Oct. 11, 1990.

Voted against defending the NEA, July 14, 1993.

Voted against defending the NEA June 22, 1994.

Equal Rights Amendment

Voted for the Equal Rights Amendment, Nov. 15, 1983.

2nd Amendment

Voted for the so-called assault weapons ban, May 5, 1994.

SDI

Voted for banning the testing of space-based weapons, May 23, 1984.

Voted against a resolution asking the administration to renegotiate the ABM treaty to allow SDI, March 13, 1991.

Voted to cut SDI funding, Sep. 8, 1993.

Contra-Aid

Voted for prohibiting aid to the anti-Communist Contras in Nicaragua, Oct. 22, 1983.

Voted for terminating aid to the Contras, May 24,1984.

Voted against aid to the Contras, April 23, 1985.

Homosexual Rights

Voted against reinstating the exclusion of homosexuals from the U.S. military that had been lifted by President Clinton, Sept. 28, 1993.