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Death penalty is a punishment that certain criminals deserve. Most Republicans (about 80% of them) agree with this type of punishment, yet, the rest of them, find it to be an extremist decision and do not support it.

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Republicans firmly believe in a marriage between a man and a woman, so they can raise a family and continue evolution. Yet, they are not against the idea of same-sex marriages because Republicans are found amongst the LGBT community. They do prefer though, a married couple consisting of a woman and a man because the amount of single women and young women giving birth alone is rising.

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The Republican Party believes that a system needs to be in place to ensure that immigrants who enter the United States illegally are not provided with the same benefits that legal citizens posses. They also believe in warmly welcoming those who enter the country through legal methods. On the other hand, while Republicans acknowledge that the number of immigrants traveling to the U.S. has enriched the country, they also acknowledge the fact that requiring them to do so legally is essential when it comes to the safety of Americans.

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Republicans argue that the party’s platforms regarding any group of people are not founded in hate or on the basis of denying groups of people their civil rights.

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RMEC is a High School where most of the time everything is calm and composed, yet,  throughout the four years that i’ve attended the school, I can honestly say that certain students need help. The school’s psychologist should be more important because a lot of the students here have some type of problem, either with themselves or at home. Students here are dealing with many problematic issues such as bullying, depression, and currently undergoing or went through abusive relationships. Students who are transgenders and need help to learn how to deal with it. To conclude, the school’s psychologist should be way more out there and taken a lot more seriously.

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Republican views on taxes include the belief that tax reduction is important, but must be done the right way. The party believes that budget surpluses have caused Americans to be overtaxed-a condition that is not only threatening their financial prosperity, but is also hindering (and possibly even reversing) growth to the country’s economy

Overall, Republicans support a variety of tax cuts. They wish to increase the child tax credit, a credit that reduces your federal income tax per child that qualifies. They also wish to get rid of the marriage penalty, which is the term for when a couple pays more filing jointly as a married couple than they would have filing separately. Republicans want a full repeal of the death tax (also known as the federal estate tax, under which a tax is applied to the transfer of the deceased’s estate at the time of their death).

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Republican views on taxes include the belief that tax reduction is important, but must be done the right way. The party believes that budget surpluses have caused Americans to be overtaxed-a condition that is not only threatening their financial prosperity, but is also hindering (and possibly even reversing) growth to the country's economy. They also want to limit the top marginal rate, believing it punishes those who have worked hard and invested well. Republicans also wish to make the Research and Development tax credit permanent. These three tax reforms combined, Republicans believe, will encourage and promote entrepreneurship. They also believe in encouraging saving and investments by implementing a tax credit for investments. However, despite their support for lowering taxes, Republicans do believe that tax cuts or tax incentives without any balancing spending cuts are detrimental to the economy.

The 2012 platform states that Republicans "reject the use of taxation to redistribute income, fund unnecessary or ineffective programs, or foster the crony capitalism that corrupts both politicians and corporations." They support making taxes "simple, transparent, flatter, and fair." They dislike the convoluted nature of the current tax code, and the fact that it is nearly impossible for the average American to understand it. Republicans oppose retroactive taxation in all cases, as well as taxes that set the classes against one another, and divide Americans. They do not support the taxation of religious organizations, charities, and fraternal benevolent societies, and also believe that contributions to these organizations should be tax deductible.

Republican Tax Cuts

Overall, Republicans support a variety of tax cuts. They wish to increase the child tax credit, a credit that reduces your federal income tax per child that qualifies. They also wish to get rid of the marriage penalty, which is the term for when a couple pays more filing jointly as a married couple than they would have filing separately. Republicans want a full repeal of the death tax (also known as the federal estate tax, under which a tax is applied to the transfer of the deceased's estate at the time of their death). The death tax takes a particular toll on family businesses or farms, where it is common that the family has to sell the business or farm to pay for the tax. In this situation, the employees and customers suffer as well, supporting the theory that overtaxing can harm American's financial prosperity, as well as the growth of the economy. The Republican Party supports the housing industry's efforts to make home owning easier, without setting quotas and giving preferential treatment. This is because they believe that lower taxes and lower interest rates could allow more Americans to be homeowners, which is in the national interest. They also believe in providing deductions on premiums of long-term insurance plans, with additional exemptions for elderly spouses, parents, or relatives that a family tends to in their own residence.

The Republican plans to reduce taxes were reflected in the Bush tax cuts. In addition to the measures listed above, these include having four lower tax brackets, providing tax cuts for all, but focusing them on the lower classes, and promoting charitable giving and education.

Recent Tax Reform Plans

This past February, Republicans proposed a tax reform, which included many of the party's ideals, as well as some ideas that have been suggested by the current administration. The writers of the plan say part of the primary goal was to simplify the tax code. It included just three income tax brackets, 10 percent, 20 percent, and 35 percent, which would reduce income tax rates overall. The plan would also made up for any revenue losses from decreased income taxes with additional taxes and fees for investment managers, big banks, and the highest earners. The plan called for a raise in the child tax credit, while cutting back other deductions and credits. This would greatly simplify the filing process, as 95 percent of filers would take a standard deduction over itemizing. While the plan has ideas from both parties, and would greatly simplify the overall process, the tax system has not been overhauled since 1986, and those in charge of the proposal see little hope for it being implemented this year. The reception of the bill has been mixed, with some seeing possibilities in it, and others dismissing it entirely. Chuck Schumer called it "dead on arrival," due to its elimination of deductions for state and local taxes. However, a white house spokesperson that commented on the bill expressed optimism. Many Democrats are attacking the bill because of the cuts it makes to tax breaks they support, and this will be the primary opposition that it faces.

However, while few expect these negotiations to have any immediate impact, House Speaker John Boehner called this proposal "the beginning of a conversation" that needs to be had about tax reform, so it is not out of the question that the proposal will lead somewhere in the future. Some lawmakers say this could be as late as 2017, but it is clear that this proposal will be the first Republican marker for reform when the time comes.

The Bush Tax Cuts

One of the best-known standing Republican tax reforms was the Bush Tax Cuts, which have been extended through Obama's presidency. There are four major parts to these tax cuts. Together, the laws that keep these cuts in effect today are: The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA, which lowered tax rates and simplified retirement plans), The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (JGTRRA, which accelerated changes in EGTRRA, increased the exemption amount for the Alternative Minimum Tax, and lowered taxes on dividends and capital gains), The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (which extended the cuts in EGTRRA and JGTRRA, as well as extending the American Recovery and Reinvestment act of 2009), and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (which keeps the Bush Tax Cuts in effect for the middle and lower classes, but allows the expiration of the cuts for the upper classes). The cuts were originally set to expire in 2010, but were extended for 2 years by President Obama. In 2012, the tax cuts were made permanent during the fiscal cliff. The actual impact of these cuts on the economy is in dispute, with some sources claiming that they led to the rich shouldering more of a financial burden, with others claiming that the cuts benefitted the rich far more than the lower or middle classes. President Bush and his associates claimed that the cuts essentially paid for themselves, but these claims have been disputed by the U.S. Treasury Department, the CBPP, and the CBO. Some economists believe the cuts helped spur economic growth, while others claim that they increased the budget deficit and harmed the economy. However, it is more or less universally accepted that the middle class benefited from these cuts, which is why they were extended in 2010, and most of them made permanent in the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.

In Take Back America by Dick Morris, the author points out that the Bush Tax Cuts, while cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans, as well as the lower classes, increased tax revenue from the wealthiest Americans. In 2001, the 1% of wealthiest Americans paid $301 billion a year in taxes, or 65 percent of the total taxes. In 2006, after the tax cuts, the same 1% paid $408 billion a year, or 71 percent of the total taxes. This strongly supports the Republican view that lower taxes increase revenues in all cases, and that raising taxes is not the answer.

Democrats Vs Republicans on Taxes

While Republicans believe in balancing spending cuts with tax cuts across the board, Democrats believe in cutting taxes for the middle and lower class, while raising them for the upper class. They believe in a higher marginal rate, with income tax being higher for those who make more, as opposed to the Republican views that taxes should be equal percentages for all income levels. In the 2012 Party Platform, 56% of republicans opposed raising taxes on those who earned over $250,000. This isn't to say that Republicans do not believe in focusing relief on the middle and lower classes; they do, however, believe in relief for all Americans, and not in raising taxes on the upper classes.

This past July, Obama proposed tax reforms that were rejected by Republicans. The president accused republicans of rejecting the proposal simply because it was made by him, but those who dislike the proposed reforms have given the reasons for their sentiments. Senator Mitch McConnell from Kentucky said that he disapproved of the proposed reforms because "It's just a further-left version of a widely panned plan he already proposed two years ago - this time, with extra goodies for tax-and-spend liberals. The tax hike it includes is going to dampen any boost businesses might otherwise get to help our economy." A House Republican leadership aide stated that the planned cuts to corporate taxes coupled with leaving the top individual tax rate where it is, as proposed by President Obama, "would have a devastating effect on small businesses in America."

Mitt Romney on Taxes

Mitt Romney is in full support of the Bush Tax Cuts, and believes that they helped get the economy back on track when it was going through a tough time. He supports tax cuts to middle class groups, especially in times of economic hardship. He believes that "Lowering taxes helps build jobs & helps working families, and so I strongly have been of the view that one of the great lessons for Ronald Reagan was that lowering taxes helped build our economy." This includes cutting taxes on interest, dividends, and capital gain, which increases the money that the middle class pockets, and therefore increases the money being put into the market. Romney, like most republicans, sees the death tax as nonsensical, and fully supports cutting it. He stated, "It doesn't make sense to me that people get taxed when they can earn their money, get taxed when they save their money, and get taxed when they die. We should get rid of the death tax."

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Republican views on taxes include the belief that tax reduction is important, but must be done the right way. The party believes that budget surpluses have caused Americans to be overtaxed-a condition that is not only threatening their financial prosperity, but is also hindering (and possibly even reversing) growth to the country's economy.

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Republican views on marijuana tend to be against legalization.

Republicans call for stricter federal regulations over marijuana, amongst the rampant state legalizations for medical and recreational use.

Republicans also worry about the circumstances under which individuals will use the drug if it is legal.

Republican John Fleming of Louisiana states, “as marijuana is de-stigmatized, use goes up, and it finds its way into the homes and candy and cookies and baked goods, and once it gets there, it finds its way into the brains of teens. Marijuana will also become more pervasive as states continue to embrace permissible laws on medical marijuana and the recreational use of marijuana, and kids and youth will have easier access to the dangerous, addictive drug.”

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The issue of marijuana legalization is becoming increasingly important as 2016 draws closer. In the past year, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington D.C. have all legalized, and medical marijuana is legal in almost half of the country. However, in the past year, support for legalization has dropped by 7 percent, going from 58 percent in 2013 to 51 percent this past year. Even with the small drop in support, the majority of the American public supports legalizing the drug, and consequently it could be a hot-button issue in the upcoming election.

Who Supports Legalization?

Republican views on marijuana tend to be against legalization, with the opposite being true for Democrats. The most recent gallup polls showed only 35 percent of Republicans supporting legalization, with 65 percent of Democrats supporting it. Because of this, support for legalization is lowest in the south and Midwest, where most states are Republican, and highest on the east and west coasts, where the states tend to be Democratic.

Some theorize that the recent decline in approval ratings for legalization have to do with actually seeing it implemented. Kevin Sabet, president of anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, believes that, "the lesson here is that legalization in theory does not look like legalization in practice." He points out that while Colorado and Washington both legalized in 2013, the decline in support for legalization declined around the same time that the laws were implemented in these states. They had begun to drop before the first marijuana stores had opened in either state. Many parents oppose legalization, as they don't wish to have their children exposed to the drug in a way that encourages its use. For example, Sabet asked, "Do I really want to have a marijuana store around the corner from my kid's school? Because that's what this is about." Likewise, Calvina Fay, executive director of Drug Free America Foundation and Save Our Society From Drugs, stated, "let's protect our kids and communities. Do we want a massive dumbing down of our young people in our country? There are many solutions to this problem that do not include giving up and legalizing and normalizing drug use."

Firmer Federal Control

Republicans call for stricter federal regulations over marijuana, amongst the rampant state legalizations for medical and recreational use. Republican John Fleming of Louisiana states, "as marijuana is de-stigmatized, use goes up, and it finds its way into the homes and candy and cookies and baked goods, and once it gets there, it finds its way into the brains of teens. Marijuana will also become more pervasive as states continue to embrace permissible laws on medical marijuana and the recreational use of marijuana, and kids and youth will have easier access to the dangerous, addictive drug."

The Fight for Driving Laws

Republicans also worry about the circumstances under which individuals will use the drug if it is legal. A University of Colorado at Denver study showed an increase in marijuana-related traffic fatalities between the state's legalizing the drug for medicinal uses in 2009 and 2013. In a hearing entitled "Planes, Trains and Automobiles: Operating While Stoned," Republicans argued for a federal standard for drug-testing drivers. It has been concluded that there is not enough evidence regarding the drug and driving to create a national standard, but Republicans continue to fight for the studies needed to create this standard and keep our drivers safe. Fleming argues that "until we have the science, we should be careful and cautious," and that we should postpone legalization until we know how the drug effects an individual's ability to operate a vehicle, and have created a standard to test for it in drivers.

Marijuana in 2016

Young voters are among the most likely to support legalization measures, with 67 percent of the 18- to 29-year-old demographic saying they would like to see marijuana legalized. These up and coming voters are therefore the most likely to be swayed most by candidate's stances on this issue, and recent exit polls showed 5 to 12 percent increases in voting within this age group. Mason Tvert, the communications director for the Marijuana Policy Project, stated, "it appears having marijuana-related initiatives on the ballot produce a greater turnout among younger voters. If a candidate takes a position against marijuana policy reform, or if they choose to ignore it, they shouldn't be surprised when those younger voters choose not to vote for them."

For these reasons, some of the 2016 Republican candidates are rethinking their stance on the issue. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has voiced an opinion that the issue should be left entirely up to the states. Rick Perry is also arguing to let the states decide, pointing out that the courts in his state of Texas have begun moving towards decriminalization. Chris Christie has stated that he will end the "failed war on drugs," which he believes is fueled by the misguided notion "that incarceration is the cure of every ill caused by drug abuse," entirely. None of these candidates personally support marijuana use, but they understand that being flexible about the issue can help them support their Party's other causes while letting the public decide for themselves, state by state, what they want in terms of marijuana laws.

It is also possible that marijuana won't be as much of a swaying issue as many think. The director of a youth voting research center has stated, "the big picture is that it's not anywhere near the top of young people's issue priorities. Their issue priorities are always jobs and education and other issues...drug legalization hardly polls at all."

Romney on Marijuana

In 2008, Romney vowed to fight "tooth and nail" against legalization. For 2016, he seems to be taking a similar stance, stating "I oppose marijuana being used for recreational purposes and I believe the federal law should prohibit the recreational use of marijuana." He has not provided a definitive stance on medicinal marijuana. When asked about it in May, he responded, "we've got enormous issues we face, but you want to talk about medical marijuana."

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The issue of marijuana legalization is becoming increasingly important as 2016 draws closer. In the past year, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington D.C. have all legalized, and medical marijuana is legal in almost half of the country. However, in the past year, support for legalization has dropped by 7 percent, going from 58 percent in 2013 to 51 percent this past year.

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The Republican Party believes in a patient-centered health care system, which is based in free markets, fostering competition and driving health care costs down. They believe that a health care system that is run by the government will reduce both the efficiency and the standard of care, as well as compromise the patient-physician relationship, and increase waiting periods within the health care system, as evidenced by government-centered health care systems throughout the world.

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Health care has risen to the forefront of political issues in recent months, especially in terms of the Republican Party's opposition to the Affordable Care Act. In this article we'll explain the Republican views on health care, the Republican Party's ideas for health care reform, and important Republican politicians' views on health care.

The Republican Party believes in a patient-centered health care system, which is based in free markets, fostering competition and driving health care costs down. They believe that a health care system that is run by the government will reduce both the efficiency and the standard of care, as well as compromise the patient-physician relationship, and increase waiting periods within the health care system, as evidenced by government-centered health care systems throughout the world.

Medical Savings Accounts

Republicans support the idea of individuals being able to manage their own health care costs through Medical Savings Accounts and Flexible Savings Accounts. Furthermore, they believe that individuals who have Flexible Spending Accounts should be able to roll over their unspent money each year, rather than losing it, and that Medical Savings Accounts should be offered to all workers, with no restrictions, as a permanent fixture within tax law. As a whole, the Republican Party believes that the more freedom the people have in choosing their health care, and their own way of managing their health care costs, the more effectively the entire system will run.

Medicare Reform

Republicans strongly believe in a reformed Medicare, which will provide seniors with more options. They believe seniors should be offered the same insurance plan that Congress is, including the option of Medical Savings Accounts. The administrative complexities must be reduced within Medicare, they argue, so that providers will be able to financially continue for patients. The Republican Party argues that Medicare should be designed to give older Americans choices, rather than as a one-size-fits-all institution.

Tort Reform

It is believed by the Republican Party that current malpractice laws actually encourage health care providers to conceal simple and innocent mistakes, due to the risk of trial lawyers vilifying these mistakes if they are revealed and taken to court. Republicans argue that a reform in these laws would encourage patient safety, as providers would be more willing to admit mistakes, and therefore patients would be better able to seek appropriate compensation. The most important part of this reform, Republicans believe, would be to open up the flow of information concerning medical errors.

Abortion

The Republican Party believes in an abstinence-only approach to sexual education, as well as educational plans that teach and advocate for healthy relationships. Republicans are strongly against federal funding for abortion, as they view abortion as the destruction of life, and do not believe that the government should be supporting such an action. In relation to HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, they support prevention methods involving early and frequent testing, abstinence, faithfulness, and behavioral changes that will eliminate the risk of exposure.

Medical Research

Republicans support medical research, as long as it does not undermine what they view to be the ethical principles of this country. They strongly support research via adult stem cells and cord blood stem cells, but are against research performed on embryonic stem cells, as this is an unnecessary destruction of life. For the same reason, Republicans oppose human cloning for research purposes.

Treating The Terminally Ill

The party opposes euthanasia and assisted suicide, as well as any non-consensual withholding of treatment for any reason. They believe that health care efforts should instead be focused on research to treat terminally ill patients, as well as pain relief and care of these patients, so that the rest of their lives are more comfortable.

Republicans on the Affordable Care Act

In the 2012 Republican Part Platform, Republicans spoke out against the Affordable Care Act, stating that the Democrats used it more as an assertion of power than they used it to improve health care conditions in this country, and in doing so they detrimentally damaged the health of this nation. The Republican Party views the requirement for United States citizens to purchase health insurance as an attack on the Constitution. They believe that the financial burden it would bring upon the country, and specifically on individual states, through the expansion of Medicaid is unsustainable, and will harm the nation as a whole. The act was so firmly opposed by the Republican Party that not a single Republican voted for the final version that Obama signed into law.

Democrats vs. Republicans on Health Care

In regards to the Affordable Care Act, Republican views have been widely disregarded by the current administration, despite the party's willingness to discuss options and bring fresh ideas to the table. On December 3 rd of 2013, President Obama declared that he "will work with anybody to implement and improve this law effectively. Now, you got good ideas? Bring 'em to me. Let's go." The Republican Study Committee sent Obama a letter, requesting to meet with him to present their ideas to reform the health care laws. To this day, they have received no response.

Republicans believe not only in repealing the current administration's health care laws, but also in replacing them entirely with laws that will better serve the public. The Republican Party's greatest concern with the Affordable Care Act is the exorbitant amount of money it will cost the American people to implement it, and the risk this cost creates to small businesses in particular.

The Republican Study Committee has created the American Health Care Reform Act, which outlines the party's ideas to reform healthcare in a more effective way. This act would repeal the Affordable Care Act entirely, in order to save tax money and rule out the many unworkable regulations that the act contains. It would lower health care costs by increasing the number of health care options available to both individuals and businesses, which would encourage competition between insurance providers. The act would provide options for individuals to deduct health care costs, reform malpractice laws to better protect patients and reduce the amount spent on lawyers, expand access to Health Savings Accounts, and help guarantee access to insurance by individuals with pre-existing conditions. This act has garnered a good deal of support but, as mentioned above, has not been acknowledged by the President. Other Republicans have also proposed alternatives, which were also ignored. Dr. Tom Price of Georgia introduced the Empowering Patients First Act, which was based on many of the same principles as the Affordable Care Act, but went about implementing them in different ways. Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah and Congressman Fred Upton of Michigan proposed ways to improve Medicaid for the more vulnerable populations. House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan proposed Medicare reforms which would not only provide seniors with the options that Republicans are advocating for, but would guarantee the continued existence of Medicare for future generations.

Another large problem Republicans have with the current health care reform bill are the broken promises contained within it. Americans were promised that they would be able to keep their health care plans if they wanted to, and were later informed that this was not true. They were also told they could keep their doctors if they wanted to, and later found out that they could, but only if they were willing and able to pay more to do so. Republicans see this as a blatant misuse of trust on the part of the administration, and it has caused them to fight against the Affordable Care Act all the more adamantly.

George W. Bush on Health Care

During his time in office, George W. Bush advocated for HIV/AIDS relief, HIV prevention, and abstinence-only education. He implemented the ABC method of HIV prevention (Abstinence, Be faithful, otherwise use a Condom). He also worked towards HIV relief and prevention through efforts that emphasized regular testing, early diagnosis, ongoing monitoring, and the elimination of HIV/AIDS in newborns. He also increased the amount spent on abstinence-only education. Bush also restricted federal funding for stem cell research (which has since been overturned by President Obama) and created a ban on human cloning and the creation of human embryos that were solely for experimental purposes. During his time in office, he also restored a policy that banned the use of controlled substances for assisted suicide.

Mitt Romney on Health Care

Republican Mitt Romney agrees with the principle that having all citizens insured would benefit the country as a whole, but points out that a government mandate is not the most efficient way to do this. During his time as governor of Massachusetts, Romney created a health insurance program that was incredibly successful, and that he believes could be a good model for national reform. Those who opposed the reform made claims that the reform created uncontrollable costs within Massachusetts, but the Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation, a non-partisan group, has since deemed these claims a myth. The Foundation's report stated that the "cost to taxpayers of achieving near universal coverage has been relatively modest and well within initial projections of how much the state would have to spend to implement reform, in part because many of the newly insured have enrolled in employer-sponsored plans at no public expense." In terms of national health care reform, Romney argues that the government should "center reforms at the state level. Open the door to state plans designed to meet the various needs of their citizens. Before imposing a one-size-fits-all federal program, let the states serve as 'the laboratories of democracy.'" Romney also supports a utilization of innovations such as electronic medical records to streamline record keeping and make it more efficient to reduce costs.

Orrin Hatch, Tom Coburn, and Richard Burr on Health Care

More recently, senators Orrin Hatch of Utah, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, and Richard Burr of North Carolina have headed up the Republican fight on health care. Their proposal was named the Patient Choice, Affordability, Responsibility and Empowerment Act, and is based upon the principle of providing more flexibility and purchasing power to the individual. It shares some important similarities with the Affordable Care Act, such as the requirement to allow dependent coverage through the age of 26, and the inability of insurance companies to provide lifetime limits. When the three senators released their proposal, Burr stated "The American people have found out what is in ObamaCare - broken promises in the form of increased health care costs, costly mandates and government bureaucracy. We can lower costs and expand access to quality coverage and care by empowering individuals and their families to make their own health care decisions, rather than empowering the government to make those decisions for them." The group stated that their proposal is designed to be "roughly budget neutral" over the first 10 years, leaving the financial burden on the American people at nothing. Coburn commented that they created this proposal because "It's critical we chart another path forward. Our health care system wasn't working well before ObamaCare and it is worse after ObamaCare."

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Health care has risen to the forefront of political issues in recent months, especially in terms of the Republican Party's opposition to the Affordable Care Act. In this article we'll explain the Republican views on health care, the Republican Party's ideas for health care reform, and important Republican politicians' views on health care.

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Republican views on abortion are rooted firmly in the belief that an unborn child, like any individual in this country, has an individual right to life that should not be infringed upon by others. The party adamantly believes that the rights guaranteed to all Americans in the Fourteenth Amendment apply to unborn children as well. They support a constitutional amendment which states this, and which will end abortion entirely. Republicans oppose using public revenues to promote or carry out abortions, and also oppose any health care options that include the coverage of abortion.Instead, republicans support tax incentives for those who choose adoption over abortion.

They seek Supreme Court justices who are likely to overturn Roe v. Wade, and push for incremental laws that are progressively stronger, hoping to begin a sway in public opinion. At the state level, they also seek incrementally stronger restriction laws, specifically in the hopes that one will provide grounds for an overturning of Casey v. Planned Parenthood.

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Republican views on abortion are rooted firmly in the belief that an unborn child, like any individual in this country, has an individual right to life that should not be infringed upon by others. The party adamantly believes that the rights guaranteed to all Americans in the Fourteenth Amendment apply to unborn children as well. They support a constitutional amendment which states this, and which will end abortion entirely. Republicans oppose using public revenues to promote or carry out abortions, and also oppose any health care options that include the coverage of abortion. Instead, republicans support tax incentives for those who choose adoption over abortion. However, the republican pro-life agenda, as stated in their 2004 party platform, does not include punitive action against women who have an abortion. In fact, republicans wish to provide women with problem pregnancies with the resources and support they need, as long as it is not infringing on the rights of their children. The party's agenda is solely to pass legislation to defend the rights outlined in the Fourteenth Amendment for unborn children.

The Republican platform on abortion has four main elements, which have been fought for, ever since they were outlined in the 1984 platform. They are: that an unborn child has a "fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed," the endorsement of a "human life" constitutional amendment, which would ban abortion, a call for judges who "respect human life" by supporting such an amendment, and new laws to state that the fetus is a "person" under the 14th Amendment. While the current Republican Party platform contains no exceptions for rape, incest, birth defect, or risks to the mother's health, these issues are controversial even within the party, with some republicans believing in exceptions for these cases, and others holding a very firm pro-life stance.

As a means of fighting towards an abortion ban, republicans work at the federal level to defund abortion, and have even reached into the private sector by encouraging health insurance providers to not cover abortions. They seek Supreme Court justices who are likely to overturn Roe v. Wade, and push for incremental laws that are progressively stronger, hoping to begin a sway in public opinion. At the state level, they also seek incrementally stronger restriction laws, specifically in the hopes that one will provide grounds for an overturning of Casey v. Planned Parenthood.

Abortion and the Constitution

The Republican Party seeks legislation that makes it 100% clear that the fourteenth amendment pertains to unborn children. Therefore, they support the appointment of judges who hold the same views on abortion, and will uphold these ideals when looking at the constitutionality of abortion.

The most renowned abortion case is Roe v. Wade, which prompted a landmark decision regarding abortion on the part of the Supreme Court. Roe v. Wade was decided simultaneously with a companion case, Doe v. Bolton. The court ruled, 7-2, that a women's right to have an abortion was defended under the right to privacy by due process as outlined in the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, as long as the right was balanced against the state's two interests in regulating abortion: the protection of the health of the mother, and the protection of prenatal life. In order to balance these interests, the court ruled to restrict abortion by the trimester of the pregnancy. The decision legalized abortion before viability, with Viability defined as being "potentially able to live outside the mother's womb, albeit with artificial aid", adding that viability "is usually placed at about seven months (28 weeks) but may occur earlier, even at 24 weeks." This is where the court ruling and the Republican party differ; republicans believe that a child is a "person," and that it's rights should be protected by law, from conception on, not only when it is considered viable. It was this case that divided the nation into what are today known as pro-life and pro-choice beliefs, and prompted the inter-party debate on abortion that has been ongoing since the ruling.

Abortion Alternatives

As a part of its beliefs on the issue, the Republican Party advocates for measures to be taken to prevent the need for abortion. The party supports an increase in educational funding to be used to teach abstinence in schools, to not only prevent unwanted pregnancies but to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and infections as well. In relation to this, republicans oppose school-based clinics to provide abortion, counseling, and contraception, as they believe this money would be better spent on abstinence education. The Republican Party also supports efforts to improve the foster care system, as well as efforts to increase funding to family services.

Democrats vs Republicans on Abortion

Many democrats and other pro-abortion groups color republicans as anti-women's-rights, or as being callous on the issues of women's freedoms. This is especially common in cases where republicans are against abortion in cases of rape or birth defect. However, most republicans are not against women's rights, they are simply defending the rights that they believe the unborn child has. They seek to provide women with unwanted pregnancies with whatever support they can, as long as it does not infringe on another's (in this case, the child's) rights. However, this coloring of pro-life republicans as women haters has definitely affected the party's support from the female demographic. In the latest presidential election, President Obama held an overwhelming majority of women's votes, and many speculate that it was, at least in part, due to the republican views on abortion.

While many republicans will argue that public opinion is on their side on the issue of abortion, many republicans have lost elections where women's rights became prominent issues, seemingly because of their stance on abortion. Many felt that strong anti-abortion stances are what cost Ken Cuccinelli in Virginia and Todd Akin in Missouri what should have been winnable races. Part of this is because abortion is an ever-changing issue in the public's mind. There are too many dependent factors for most people to have a set-in-stone opinion on the issue. Consistently, the majority of Americans support restrictions on access to abortion. However, the public opinion sways in several cases, such as rape, potential birth defect, and when the pregnancy endangers the woman's health. Many who oppose abortion for other reasons will support it when it is due to these reasons, which is why it is unclear whether the Republican Party is gaining or losing support due to its pro-life policies as a whole. Over 200 new state-level abortion restrictions have been put into place over the last few years, and very few of the Republicans who helped enact them have been ousted from office in the aftermath.

It is certain, however, that some Republican candidates have lost themselves support due to opposing abortions in the cases of rape, birth defect, and a health risk to the mother. Ken Cuccinelli faced Planned Parenthood's campaign against him, saying he was "wrong for women, wrong for Virginia," due to his opposition of abortion in rape victims. Exit polling later found that these abortion views were a key player in Virginians who opposed Cuccinelli. Similarly, many of us remember Todd Akin's statement that victims of "legitimate rape" rarely get pregnant as a defense of his view that abortion should not be legal, even in the case of rape. Akin's case differs from Cucinelli's in that the brunt of his opposition came from his statements about the female body and what was and was not legitimate rape, rather than the fact that he opposed abortion in rape cases. However, that isn't to say that he would have garnered support if he had worded his explanation differently. Overall, Republicans who stand on the far right of the abortion issue seem to have less support from the general public than those who stand closer to the middle, and believe in exceptions to the rule.

Last year, Republicans stated that they were going to work to be inclusive and accepting on social issues. However, this past January at the Republican National Committee, a group of social conservatives introduced a resolution urging Republicans to speak out on the issue of abortion. The resolution reads "The Republican National Committee urges all Republican pro-life candidates, consultants, and other national Republican Political Action Committees to reject a strategy of silence on the abortion issue when candidates are attacked with 'war on women' rhetoric." This move put many republicans who are more moderate in a hard place, and also has the potential to harm the party's image and support base, especially on an issue where wording can make or break their numbers. The Republican's statement last year that they will be more inclusive and welcoming was made for a reason - because Republicans nationwide are losing support over their controversial social beliefs. Abortion has been becoming a larger and larger issue, both for republicans and democrats, for the 2014 midterm races, and will probably continue to be through the 2016 elections.

President Richard Nixon on Abortion

As the president in office at the time of the ruling for Roe v. Wade, it would be expected for Richard Nixon to have a good deal to say on the abortion issue. However, at the time that the ruling was made, Nixon declined to comment publicly about it. He later stated that "There are times when an abortion is necessary, I know that," stating that he considered abortion in the case of rape to be one of these times. However, he believed that greater access to abortion would create an air of permissiveness about the procedure, which was not acceptable.

Mitt Romney on Abortion

Romney is a Republican whose views on abortion include exceptions. While he has in the past defended a woman's right to choose, he stated in his 2002 campaign for governor that he believes abortion is the "wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother." Romney also stands apart from the bulk of his party on the issue of a federal ban on abortion, and rather believing the issue should be left to the states. Romney stated in an interview to the Boston Globe in 2005 "while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate."

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Republican views on abortion are rooted firmly in the belief that an unborn child, like any individual in this country, has an individual right to life.

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