Why abortion would be part of Romney's agenda
While Mitt Romney told an Iowa newspaper that there is no abortion legislation that he's "familiar with that would become part" of his presidential agenda, Romney overlooked what he has touted will be one of his first acts as president: the repeal of President Obama's health care law.
Conservatives oppose the health care law for a number of reasons, and for abortion opponents, undoing Obamacare is also a top priority since they say the law is one of the largest expansions of abortion access.
The Republican nominee told the Des Moines Register editorial board Tuesday that abortion would not be an issue in a Romney presidency, saying, "There's no legislation with regards to abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda."
The Obama campaign responded sharply to the statement, saying that Romney has switched his position again. They point to statements during the Republican primary where he said he would "defund" Planned Parenthood and appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade.
"The real Mitt Romney will say anything to win," Obama campaign spokesperson Stephanie Cutter told reporters Wednesday.
Immediately after his statement regarding abortion legislation, Romney's spokesperson Andrea Saul said Romney "would of course support legislation aimed at providing greater protections for life."
Romney himself weighed in Wednesday when asked about the issue in Delaware, Ohio. "I think I've said time and again that I'm a pro-life candidate and I'll be a pro-life president," he told reporters. "The actions I'll take immediately is to remove funding for Planned Parenthood. It will not be part of my budget. And also I've indicated that I will reverse the Mexico City position of the president. I will reinstate the Mexico City policy which keeps us from using foreign aid for abortions overseas."
Romney had told the Register that he would reinstate the so-called "Mexico City policy" that bans U.S. foreign aid from being used for abortions, pointing out that President Obama dropped the policy on his 10th day in office.
Romney failed to mention, however, that he has vowed on day one of his presidency to repeal the health care law. One of the many controversial components of the Affordable Care Act is its impact on access to abortion. If Romney won and successfully repealed the law, it could open up the doors to another vocal debate on the issue, and, according to social conservatives, would be a massive win for abortion opponents.
The anti-abortion community says Obamacare is the greatest government expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade. They point to the central component of the health care law -- the state-run exchanges, which should serve as a marketplace for private insurance. The exchanges could include insurance plans that provide abortion coverage, unless a state chooses to explicitly prohibit them. Additionally, abortion opponents note that the government subsidies the government will offer for insurance could pay for abortions.
Democrats deny that the health care law allows for government-funded abortions, pointing out that subsidy recipients will have to purchase abortion coverage through a separate policy rider that the government won't pay for. Still, repealing the law would mean fewer women would have access to health insurance and the abortion rider.
At least 12 million women ages 15 to 44 would qualify for federal assistance under the health reform law, according to a 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation report, and could theoretically have easier access to abortion coverage -- unless they're in a state with explicit restrictions.
So for abortion opponents, repealing the law means ensuring those 12 million women don't have easier access to abortions.
"That is a top priority of Governor Romney's and a top priority of ours," National Right to Life Executive Director David O'Steen told CBSNews.com. A repeal of the health care law "will do away with the abortion components in the bill," he added.
The Romney campaign did not respond to requests for comment on the issue.
Romney has over the years come under scrutiny for his shifting views on abortion rights.
During his run for Massachusetts Senate in 1994, Romney said "abortion should be safe and legal in this country" and that he would "sustain and support" Roe v. Wade. He said he personally does not support abortion but said his "personal beliefs should not be brought into a political campaign."
Those are positions he held through his campaign for Massachusetts governor in 2002, but his shift toward an anti-abortion rights message began during his tenure. He publicized his changing stance in a 2005 op-ed in the Boston Globe after he vetoed legislation that would have expanded access to the morning after pill.
"The bill does not involve only the prevention of conception: The drug it authorizes would also terminate life after conception," he wrote then of the emergency contraception legislation passed by the Democratic legislature.
In that op-ed, two years before he announced his first presidential bid, Romney went on to publicize his evolving views on abortion. While defending his contraception veto, he promised to "uphold" his pro-choice campaign promise. "While I do not favor abortion, I will not change the state's abortion laws," Romney wrote at the time, noting that a majority of Massachusetts residents are in favor of abortion rights.
After Romney left office in 2007 and launched his failed presidential run, he became staunchly against abortion rights, telling the attendees at a National Right to Life convention that he "arrived at this place of principle only a few years ago."
Sarah Huisenga contributed to this report.