Democratic vice presidential candidate, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., pumps his arm as he takes the stage during the third day session of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
(CNSNews.com) – Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine told CNN’s “State of the Union with Jake Tapper” on Sunday that he still supports the Hyde amendment, which bans federal funding for abortion, despite Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s push for its repeal.
“On Hyde, my position is the same. I support the Hyde amendment. I haven’t changed that, but as a vice president, I had to get comfortable with the notion that I can have my personal views, but I’m going to support the president of the United States, and I will,” Kaine said when whether he had changed his position on the matter.
As CNSNews.com previously reported, Clinton told Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, in June that she supports repealing the Hyde amendment.
“Let’s repeal laws like the Hyde Amendment that make it nearly impossible for low-income women, disproportionally women-of-color, to exercise their full reproductive rights,” said Clinton told Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the political arm of Planned Parenthood, at the event in Washington, D.C.
“You’re a Catholic. So, I have to ask you about your position on abortion, because when you started your career, you seemed very — you seemed pro-life. You were anti-abortion. Now you are not, and you have voted the way the Planned Parenthood and NARAL, groups like that, would like you too. Robby Mook, the campaign manager for Hillary Clinton, said you have given the campaign assurances that you’re with Hillary Clinton when it comes to her position on repealing the Hyde amendment, which bans federal funding,” Tapper said in an interview with Kaine on “State of the Union” Sunday.
“That is not accurate, and I don’t think Robby has said that, Jake. Here’s my — my voting position on abortion has not really changed. I am a Catholic, and I accept the church’s teaching on this issue, but I do not believe that the job of somebody in public life is to basically say, I am a Catholic, so my job is to make our laws consistent with Catholic doctrine and make everybody follow it,” Kaine said.
“This is an important personal matter, and I have always supported Roe v. Wade. I think the last thing we need is a government that intrudes upon the decision-making of women and men too when it comes to matters of whether it’s abortion rights, contraception,” he said.
“On Hyde, my position is the same. I support the Hyde amendment. I haven’t changed that, but as a vice president, I had to get comfortable with the notion that I can have my personal views, but I’m going to support the president of the United States, and I will,” Kaine added.
Democratic vice presidential candidate, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., pumps his arm as he takes the stage during the third day session of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) 
