A Close Look at Bucks County's "Pro Life" Representation in Harrisburg

Before the 2010 elections, the Catholic Standard and Times, the Pennsylvania Pro Life Federation, and the Pro Life Union of Southeast Pennsylvania looked at candidates for the Pennsylvania House (including the 18th, 29th, 31st, 140th, 141st, 142nd , 143rd, 144th, 145th, and 178th districts from Bucks county) and the Pennsylvania Senate (including the 6th, 10th, 12th, and 24th districts from Bucks County....

• Of those who subsequently won election or re-election to the Pa Senate in 2010 and had even bothered to respond to Catholic Standard and Times questions, only Bob Mensch (24th) consistently answered in manners consistent with Catholic positions on the sanctity of human life, conscience protection, and marriage/family. Tommy Tomlinson (6th) was also identified by the Pro Life Federation and the Pro Life Union as "Pro Life."
• Of those who subsequently won election or re-election to the Pa House in 2010 and had even bothered to respond to Catholic Standard and Times questions, only John Galloway (140th) consistently answered in manners consistent with Catholic positions on the sanctity of human life, conscience protection, and marriage/family (Of Bucks County's "pro life" delegation in the House and Senate, Galloway is the lone Democrat.).  In addition to Galloway, Gene DiGirolamo (18th) and Paul Clymer (145th) were identified by the Pro Life Federation and the Pro Life Union as "Pro Life."

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 3 was designed to prevent tax payer funding of at least some "Obamacare" abortions.  Even though only Mensch and Tomlinson were thought to be "Pro Life," final passage of SB 3 enjoyed positive votes from all four Bucks County senators.  Assuming passage in the House, things were sure looking up, as there was a promise of Governor Corbett's signature!  Yet, it is more than curious that pro abortion Planned Parenthood gives Senator Greenleaf a fair rating and gives Senator McIlhinney a glowing rating! Is it legitimate to now wonder whether Greenleaf and McIlhinney knew that SB 3 would ultimately go no where?

Rather than just running SB 3, an identical bill - HB 1977 - was put up in the House and passed in December 2011. Even though only Clymer, DiGirolamo, Galloway, and Watson are thought to be "Pro Life," final passage of HB 1977 enjoyed positive votes from eight Bucks County representatives.  It should be noted that pro abortion Planned Parenthood gives Representatives Petri and Quinn fair ratings and gives Representatives Farry and O'Neill glowing ratings.  Is it legitimate to wonder whether Petri, Quinn, Farry, and O'Neill knew that HB 1977 would ultimately go no where?

Any Lessons Learned?

House Majority Leader Mike Turzai "effectively" blocked Senate Bill 3; Pennsylvania still lacks "opt out" legislation.  For the 2012 elections, the Pennsylvania Pro Life Federation listed Democrat John Galloway (140th) and Republicans Gene DiGirolamo (18th), Kathy Watson (144th), and Paul Clymer (145th) as "Pro Life"; Republicans Bernie O'Neill (29th), Marguerite Quinn (143rd), and Scott Petri (178th) were listed as "leaning Pro Life."  All seven enjoyed re-election.  The six Republicans said "thank you" by being part of the group that UNANIMOUSLY re-elected Mike Turzai as house majority leader. 

When "push came to shove," supposedly "pro life" Gene DiGirolamo, Kathy Watson, and Paul Clymer - as well as supposedly "leaning pro life" Bernie O'Neill, Marguerite Quinn, and Scott Petri - failed us.  Pennsylvania still lacks "opt out" legislation and our supposedly "pro life" Republican delegation shows an absolute disrespect for pro life Pennsylvanians.