Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
Just posted on the website of the Indianapolis Star:
Gov. Mitch Daniels will sign a bill that defunds Planned Parenthood and imposes some of the most stringent anti-abortion measures in the nation.
His decision to sign House Bill 1210 will fuel speculation that he will seek the Republican nomination for president. Daniels has said he will make a decision on his political future soon, now that the legislative session ends today.
In a statement, Daniels said he had supported the bill from the outset “and the recent addition of language guarding against the spending of tax dollars to support abortions creates no reason to alter my position....”
“Any organization affected by this provision can resume receiving taxpayer dollars immediately by ceasing or separating its operations that perform abortions.”
To those, including our own Bill McGurn, who have been wondering quite what Gov. Daniels meant when he suggested a "truce" on the social issues, a heartening sign.
I don't mean to put words into Bill's mouth, of course, just to entice him to post a comment.
Bill?
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Comments:
May '10
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
Fantastic! I hope this builds some goodwill with those offended by or concerned with the "truce."
Jul '10
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
I suppose many pundits will read this as a tactical maneuver by Daniels to mend fences with social conservatives who were upset about his "truce" comment, in preparation for a presidential bid.
That would be a pity. Defunding Planned Parenthood is the right thing to do. I'm more than willing to believe that Governor Daniels did it for that reason, not for political gain.
Edited on April 30, 2011 at 12:31amOct '10
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
Kenneth, I don't know. That doesn't really vibe with his style or past comments.
I tend to dislike this sort of tactical maneuvering, since it usually results in botched legislation (I don't know how you mess up defunding an institution, but I'm sure politicians are perfectly capable of doing so). "Red Meat" legislation is almost never well-written (health care bill, anyone?) and tends to have a lot of unintended consequences (though I dunno if that last bit applies to this case).
Jul '10
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
Daniels has always been staunchly pro-life. And he's always been a fierce proponent of the idea that taxpayers' dollars should be spent as parsimoniously as possible. His decision here is entirely consistent with the way he has governed during his two terms.
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
I am, Kenneth, on the other side on this one. I hope that it is a tactical maneuver. To be precise, I hope that Governor Daniels sees the necessity of keeping the anti-abortion forces on board, and I hope that he makes a public commitment with regard to appointing judges who will overturn Roe v. Wade. That would allay many of my concerns.
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
With Mike Huckabee sending mixed signals as to 2012, it seems to me that Daniels' decision on HB 1210 could give Huck one more reason to opt out now that Mitch has firmly aligned himself with the pro-life movement.
Maybe also undercuts Pawlenty, whom some conservatives already aren't wild about for his tepid reaction to the Ryan plan.
I know you except cynicism from me, Mr. Robinson, so I won't disappoint: should Daniels become the nonimee, I predict he stays away from this issue and focuses on the economy and the budget -- only engaging on HB 1210 once the inevitable NARAL attack ads start popping up in purple states.
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
1. I do not in fact wonder what the governor meant. I take him at his word that he believes that by pressing the mute button on social issues, the spendthrift Democrat lions will lie down with the progrowthq Republican lambs. 2. It may be wise to not put these issues up front. In fact, methinks there was something of a straw man here,in that no leader I can think of was in fact arguing that GOP should lead with these issues. It is not wise to say the first sentence aloud. 3.) Signing the bill was a good move, on the merits -- it came up through the Indiana legislature, as these things should-- and is good politically. 4) My point -- that the governor's statement, and his stubborn defense -- means he will have to spend more time proving he's not just surrendering seems to be confirmed both by Peter's question and by at least some of the reaction questioning his motives. And all that is a pity because it is a distraction from a great story that the governor owns, almost alone: how policies very unlike those of President Obama have turned around a failing state.
Jul '10
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
As a libertarian, I've been waiting for decades for a mainstream Republican to acknowledge the empirical fact that the culture war is not only a distraction from the true conservative struggle to reduce the size of government; it's also a losing political issue. Thumping the culture drum scares independents into the arms of the Democrats. Culture wars are won or lost in the cultural institutions - not in the polling booth.
I liked Daniels before he called for a truce. I like him even more because he said what needed to be said.
Jul '10
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
I am a bit confused by this, Herr Doktor Professor. Do you mean that you prefer tactical maneuvers to conviction? And (if so) while this is, on one level, splendidly Machiavellian, do not the contingencies of tactics fade rather quickly?
Dec '10
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
Bill: so nice, you said it twice!
May '10
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
Paul, I'm glad to hear you say that. I agree with you that commitments need to be made clear about Judges. It is nice to know that Mitch has a chance to bring you onboard.
Bill, I'm sorry to see you get this so wrong. To build a winning coalition around the key issue of debt might be overly pragmatic for you, but it is not a betrayal of any conservative beliefs. Reagan didn't win by campaigning on making abortion illegal. He won because people believed he could reignite the american dream.
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
Kenneth, Roe v. Wade was decided in the Supreme Court in 1973 before the culture wars began. If it is reversed and the matter is returned to the states, it can be fought out on the merits via public debates. Until and unless that happens, the culture wars will not end.
Let me add that Roe v. Wade and Jimmy Carter's response to it began the process by which many evangelicals, hitherto supporters of the Democratic Party, and, after a time, very gradually, many Catholics began to shift to the Republican Party. If we own Texas and Oklahoma now, it is because of this -- and the same is true throughout the South. Even here in Michigan, if the Republicans abandon the cause, our ranks will shrink appreciably.
What Governor Daniels said was morally wrong, and it is very bad politics. And many a leading Republican has pleaded with him in private to find a way to reverse course. You once asked, "Where can the social conservatives go?" That was McCain's attitude regarding the libertarians in 2008. What can happen is that they become disillusioned and do not turn out.
Aug '10
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
What would have happened if he hadn't signed it?
Oct '10
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
Joseph Eagar: Kenneth, I don't know. That doesn't really vibe with his style or past comments.
I tend to dislike this sort of tactical maneuvering, since it usually results in botched legislation (I don't know how you mess up defunding an institution, but I'm sure politicians are perfectly capable of doing so). "Red Meat" legislation is almost never well-written (health care bill, anyone?) and tends to have a lot of unintended consequences (though I dunno if that last bit applies to this case). · Apr 29 at 3:38pm
“Any organization affected by this provision can resume receiving taxpayer dollars immediately by ceasing or separating its operations that perform abortions.” Here are your anticipated unintended consequences. A mere bookkeeping maneuver can let Planned Parenthood or any other murderous gang continue operations with the state's cooperation. Simply create a new entity.
I'm more with Daniels than against him, but this is one of those tactics that will, in the end, mean nothing.
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
Let me add one additional point. In 1980, the coalition that elected Ronald Reagan had at its heart an alliance between libertarians and social conservatives. One fiddles with that alliance at one's peril.
Moreover Bill McGurn is right. There is no chance that "the spendthrift Democrat lions will lie down with the progrowthq Republican lambs." There is nothing to gain and everything to lose by calling a truce on the social issues.
My hope is that Governor Daniels' stance on the Planned Parenthood bill is a sign that he is beginning to recognize as much.
Dec '10
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
The bill says:
"Prohibits state agencies from entering contracts with... any entity that performs abortions or maintains or operates a facility where abortions are performed. Cancels state funding for any current contracts.... States public policy findings concerning a fetus feeling pain.... Sets requirements for performing an abortion after the first trimester but before the earlier of viability of the fetus or 20 weeks of postfertilization age... (current law requirements are based on viability of the fetus). Requires that a physician determine the postfertilization age of a fetus before performing an abortion, and allows for the discipline of a physician who fails to do this.... Adds information that a pregnant woman must be informed of orally and in writing before an abortion may be performed.... Requires a pregnant woman seeking an abortion to view fetal ultrasound imaging.... Requires a physician who performs an abortion to: (1) have admitting privileges at a hospital in the county or in a contiguous county to the county where the abortion is performed; or (2) enter into an agreement with a physician who has admitting privileges.... Prohibits qualified health plans under the federal health care reform law from providing coverage for abortions except... in certain circumstances.
Jan '11
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
With respect, I disagree. Culture issues could mean a lot of things, but in reality they boil down to the issues that come before the Supreme Court. We're talking about abortion, gay marriage, etc.
The appropriate conservative position, I'd argue, is not to have the Supreme Court decide cultural issues in our favor. It's to prevent the Court from making those decisions in the first place. We would love to allow cultural issues to be decided in cultural institutions, but they're not. They're being decided by courts.
In a perfect world, we'd all take a healthy skepticism about politicians or lawyers making moral decisions. But because these issues do have public consequences, some political involvement is inevitable. In our system, those "moral" decisions are supposed to be decided by localities, the more local the better. But that isn't what's happening now. Instead, now, these issues are being decided by the Supreme Court based on elusive penumbras and emanations. That's what we need to stop.
Jun '10
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
This seems like an easy one: it's a spending cut. Regardless of where you stand on abortion, why does Planned Parenthood need your hard-earned tax dollars?
The big issue for me is judges: would a President Daniels nominate an originalist like Scalia, or does a "truce" mean he would pick a squishy moderate like Souter instead?
It would also be interesting to know if he would resume the defense of DOMA in the courts.
Dec '10
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
So, in summary:HB1210 is a bill primarily intended to discourage abortion and to prohibit it after the fetus reaches 20 weeks of gestational age. Its taxpayer protection provisions to defund abortion providers and abortion-friendly health plans were apparently added as an afterthought.
If Gov. Daniels says he was a proponent of the bill even before the defunding provisions were added, then he is saying he's an anti-abortion governor. By convention, that would make him a social conservative, but it does make his "truce" call a little more puzzling.
(Perhaps instead of "truce," he ought to have said, "I'm a strong social conservative, but I am willing to put social conservative issues to one side temporarily in order to form a coalition to tackle our fiscal crisis." If he already said that, I sort of missed it because of how the statement was reported: it seemed to indicate he was telling social conservatives to back off.)
Re: Mitch to Defund Planned Parenthood
Robert Barraud Taylor
I am a bit confused by this, Herr Doktor Professor. Do you mean that you prefer tactical maneuvers to conviction? And (if so) while this is, on one level, splendidly Machiavellian, do not the contingencies of tactics fade rather quickly? · Apr 29 at 4:23pm
I care far more about what a politician does than about the state of his soul. The first is my business; the second is his.