John Bel Edwards on Abortion

Member of Democrats for Life, anti-choice group

In this environment, Ms. [Katrina] Jackson, the Democratic state senator, has bloomed into a star. She draws a hard line at abortion. To her, it's unequivocal: Abortion is murder, and murder goes against God's will. Over two terms as a state representative--she joined the Senate in 2019--Ms. Jackson put her name to a slew of laws that have made headlines and drawn furious protests from abortion rights activists in Louisiana and nationwide.

Favored fetal heartbeat bill banning early abortions

Analysis by ABC News (May 30, 2019): The bill itself is similar to some of the other so-called "heartbeat" bills that have been signed into law elsewhere in that it bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. Unlike some other bills and other existing abortion laws, the Louisiana bill does not include exceptions in cases of rape and incest.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 31-5-3 on May/6/19; Passed House 79-23-3 on May/29/19; Signed by Governor John Bel Edwards on May/30/19.

Signed one of country's most restrictive anti-abortion laws

Edwards said, "The pro-life ethos has to mean more than just the abortion issue. It's got to go beyond that. The job isn't over when the baby's born if you've got poor people who need access to health care."

Unblemished anti-abortion voting record

What Edwards is telling voters that separates him from Jindal boils down to honesty. Seven of the eight years he has served in the Legislature were spent closing budget deficits, and over time Edwards became increasingly vocal about calling out the governor on what he calls "fictions" in the budgeting process.

AdWatch: My daughter is living proof of my pro-life values

The commercial shows their grown-up daughter with her fiancee as Donna Edwards says, `Samantha's getting married next spring and she's living proof that John Bel Edwards lives his values every day.`

Edwards said the ad was his daughter's idea `to make sure people understood where we are on that issue as it relates to our Catholic Christian faith, being pro-life.` It also draws distinctions from the national Democratic Party, as Edwards positions himself as the kind of moderate Democrat that Louisiana used to regularly elect to statewide office.

Provide alternatives to Planned Parenthood before blocking

Another difference of opinion involves term-limited Gov. Bobby Jindal's decision to block Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, which doesn't provide abortions in Louisiana. All three Republicans say they support Jindal's decision. Edwards said there should be more investigation of claims that the organization was illegally profiting from fetal tissue sales, which Planned Parenthood denies. He also said Louisiana must make sure other health care locations are available to provide services before blocking Planned Parenthood from Medicaid.

Abortion doctors must have hospital admitting privileges

Opposition by Jurist.org: The law would likely shut down three of the state's five abortion clinics. Proponents of the bill argue that admitting privileges requirements further the objective of promoting women's health. Critics contend that bills like HB 388 are thinly-veiled attempts to outlaw abortions entirely. A Planned Parenthood press release [says HB 388] was passed under the guise of protecting patient safety but it does the opposite. Data from the CDC shows that abortion has over a 99 percent safety record. For patients' safety, providers already have plans in place in case of an emergency.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 34-3-2, Vote #988 on May/14/14; Passed House 88-5-11, Vote #1108 on May/21/14; State Rep. John Bel Edwards voted YES; Signed by Governor Bobby Jindal on Jun/12/14 [Note: this was the law overturned by the Supreme Court in June 2020.]

Abortion is the freedom of choice

Edwards indicated support for the following principles regarding abortion.
• Abortion is the freedom of choice, between the appropriate parties and their higher power.