The Truth About Congressman Pence

Congressman Mike Pence is no friend to Hoosier women.  During his 12 years in the U.S. House, Pence has earned his reputation as a far-right extremist. He is intent on limiting lifesaving, preventive health care for women and restricting health care choices for victims of rape and incest.  He also wants to limit economic and educational opportunities for women, and his voting record shows what his agenda will be if he is elected Governor.

Cong. Pence co-authored HR 374, the "personhood" initiative, which would make some forms of contraceptives illegal and prohibit abortions in all circumstances, including rape and incest.  The proposal provides no exceptions to a prohibition against termination of pregnancy and would likely lead to the outlawing of birth control pills and IUDs.

Cong. Pence co-sponsored legislation that would have redefined rape to cover only "forcible" rape, eliminating some incidences of incest and rape from the list of crimes against women.  He joined Missouri’s Cong. Todd Akin in attempting to limit access to health services for rape and incest victims on Medicaid.

Cong. Pence voted against:

• Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which addresses equal pay for equal work;

• Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act;

• Parental Leave for public employees;

• Minimum Wage at $7.25/hour, which affects women disproportionately as they make up 62% of minimum-wage earners in our country;

• Pell Grants for low income college students; Education and Head Start funding for our children;

• Reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides affordable health care to children;

• Social Security and Medicare, the safety nets for millions of older women.

Cong. Pence led the charge to strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood for vital preventive health care services such as cancer screenings, STD testing, and family planning.  He threatened to "shut down" the Federal Government if he did not get his way.

Cong. Pence has voted to repeal requirements for insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions and for coverage for children up to age 26.  He compared the Supreme Court decision which upheld ACA preventive health services for women to the atrocities of Sept 11th.