Issue Position: Family and Social Issues

Issue Position

Supporting Idaho's Families and Values

I am committed to safeguarding our quintessential American freedoms and values and strengthening the core of our society, the family. American families are often the focus of issues addressed in Congress such as family violence, substance abuse, protection of children and marriage.

ABORTION
I oppose abortion as a means of birth control, with exceptions in instances of rape, incest, or if the life of the mother is in danger. I have consistently voted to cut off federal funding for any organization that offers or encourages abortions. Furthermore, I believe adoption is a viable alternative to abortion. As such, I have supported efforts to curb the practice of abortion while serving in the House of Representatives.

CONSCIENCE PROVISIONS
Historically, conscience provisions have been supported by Republicans and Democrats alike. First enacted in 1973, conscience laws protect those who refuse to participate in abortions or oppose contraception for moral or religious reasons and may face discrimination. I am concerned that the Administration has attempted to rescind this rule, and I have previously signed a letter to President Obama urging him to preserve it.

Like most Idahoans, I believe that religiously-affiliated organizations, such as religious charities, schools, and universities and hospitals, should not be compelled by the Federal government to purchase insurance policies for their employees that violate their long standing religious convictions. An across-the-board mandate like the one offered last Congress by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to require religious institutions to provide insurance coverage for contraception ignores the constitutionally protected right to religious freedom.

DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE
I believe in the preservation of marriage and support the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Under DOMA, passed in 1996, individual States remain free to pass laws recognizing same-sex marriage, but no other State is required to recognize those relationships as such. I trust the people of Idaho and their representatives in the State Legislature to make the most appropriate decisions for their communities when considering this matter.

PUBLIC FUNDING OF ABORTIONS
I oppose the use of public funding for abortion services. I oppose abortion as means of birth control and believe that exceptions should be limited to cases of rape, incest, or if the life of the mother is in danger. Furthermore, I believe adoption is a viable alternative to abortion. As such, I have supported efforts to curb the practice of abortion while serving in the House of Representatives. I support legislation that creates a government wide prohibition on any taxpayer funding of abortion and provides for conscience protections for physicians employed by the federal government.

That is why I supported H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act which would prohibit public funding of abortion in all federal programs and make permanent the Hyde Amendment which prohibits such funding.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
These freedoms that America's early immigrants sought--and which the Constitution recognizes as an essential element of liberty--have become a misguided judicial imperative to ensure freedom from religion. The need for a separation of church and state meant something very different and specific when the Constitution was drafted, during an age of monarchs who asserted heavenly authority. Recent attempts to undermine our freedom of worship in the name of "political correctness" are a direct attack on the values and liberties for which our forefathers fought and died.

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