Current:Home > InvestCandidates wrangle over abortion policy in Kentucky gubernatorial debate -FundWay
Candidates wrangle over abortion policy in Kentucky gubernatorial debate
View
Date:2025-04-18 16:38:24
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron accused each other of taking extreme stands on abortion policy Monday night as they wrangled over an issue that’s become a flashpoint in their hotly contested campaign for governor in Kentucky.
During an hourlong debate at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky, the rivals fielded questions over education, taxes, public safety and the monthlong strike by auto workers, which has spread to Ford’s highly profitable Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville.
The candidates tried to one-up the other in their support for public education. Some of their sharpest exchanges during the televised debate, however, came when asked to lay out their stands on abortion.
Their remarks, which took place about three weeks before the Nov. 7 election, came against the backdrop of Kentucky’s current abortion law, which bans the procedure except when carried out to save a pregnant woman’s life or to prevent a disabling injury.
Beshear said that his challenger celebrated the abortion ban’s passage and pointed to Cameron’s long-running support for the law as written, without exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest.
“My opponent’s position would give a rapist more rights than their victim,” Beshear said. “It is wrong. We need to change this law. We need to make sure that those individuals have that option.”
Once Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, the state’s trigger law — passed in 2019 — took effect to ban nearly all abortions.
Cameron reiterated Monday night that he would sign a bill adding abortion exceptions if given the chance, a position he revealed during a radio interview last month.
Cameron went on the attack by pointing to Beshear’s opposition to abortion restrictions passed by the state’s GOP-dominated legislature. As attorney general, Beshear refused to defend a law imposing a 20-week ban on abortion, and later as governor he vetoed a 15-week ban, Cameron said.
“That is Andy Beshear’s record on the issue of life,” Cameron said. “It’s one of failure for the unborn.”
Beshear responded that he has consistently supported “reasonable restrictions,” especially on late-term abortions. Beshear also noted that the 15-week ban lacked exceptions for rape and incest.
Abortion polices have been at the forefront of the campaign. Beshear’s campaign released a TV ad last month featuring a Kentucky woman who revealed her own childhood trauma while calling for rape and incest exceptions. The woman, now in her early 20s, talked about having been raped by her stepfather when she was 12 years old. She became pregnant as a seventh grader but eventually miscarried.
Meanwhile, the candidates took turns touting their plans to improve public education.
Cameron accused the governor of mischaracterizing his plan to help students overcome learning loss when schools were closed during the pandemic.
“We need a governor that is going to lean into this issue to fight for our kids and make sure that they have the best education system here possible in Kentucky,” Cameron said.
Beshear highlighted his own plan calling for an 11% pay raise for teachers and all public school personnel, including bus drivers, janitors and cafeteria staff. He said he’s supported educators “every step of the way” to raise their pay and protect their pensions as governor and previously as attorney general.
“If we want to catch our kids up in math, you have to have a math teacher,” the governor said. “And it’s also time for universal pre-K for every four-year-old in Kentucky.”
Beshear criticized Cameron for supporting a Republican-backed measure to award tax credits for donations supporting private school tuition. The Kentucky Supreme Court struck down the measure last year. The governor and other opponents of the bill said the program would have diverted money from public schools. Supporters said the measure offered opportunities for parents who want new schooling options for their children but are unable to afford them.
“He (Cameron) supports a voucher program that would take tens of millions of dollars out of our public school system,” Beshear said. “Out of the paychecks of our educators, out of the resources that they need, and again send them to fancy private schools.”
Cameron has proposed raising the statewide base starting pay for new teachers, saying it would have a ripple effect by lifting pay for other teachers. Cameron’s plan also would develop an optional, 16-week tutoring program for math and reading instruction.
“We need leadership that’s going to catch our kids up,” Cameron said.
veryGood! (88656)
Related
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- Biden’s reference to ‘an illegal’ rankles some Democrats who argue he’s still preferable to Trump
- Havertz scores late winner as Arsenal beats Brentford 2-1 to go top of Premier League overnight
- Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and More Oscar Nominees at Their First Academy Awards
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- 15 Best-Selling Products on Amazon That Will Help You Adjust to Daylight Savings
- Pennsylvania truck drive realized he won $1 million after seeing sign at Sheetz
- 2024 starting pitcher rankings: Spencer Strider, Gerrit Cole rule the mound
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- Josh Hartnett, Tamsin Egerton & More Red Carpet Couples Turning Oscars 2024 Into A Date Night
Ranking
- This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
- I said no to my daughter's sleepover invitation. Sexual violence is just too rampant.
- New Jersey infant killed, parents injured in apparent attack by family dog, police say
- Why Ryan Gosling Didn't Bring Eva Mendes as His Date to the 2024 Oscars
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- A big night for Hollywood fashion: Oscars red carpet live updates
- Let These Photos of Former Couples at the Oscars Award You a Trip Down Memory Lane
- Oscars 2024 live: Will 'Oppenheimer' reign supreme? Host Jimmy Kimmel kicks off big night
Recommendation
Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
I said no to my daughter's sleepover invitation. Sexual violence is just too rampant.
Bradley Cooper Twins With Mom Gloria Campano On 2024 Oscars Red Carpet
Social media reacts to Sean O'Malley's dominant title defense at UFC 299 vs. Marlon Vera
Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
Ariana Grande Channels Glinda in Wickedly Good Look at the 2024 Oscars
Behind the scenes with the best supporting actress Oscar nominees ahead of the 2024 Academy Awards ceremony
Josh Hartnett and Wife Tamsin Egerton Have a Rare Star-Studded Date Night at Pre-Oscars Party