Indiana pro-life group credits Mike Pence for reduction of abortions in the state

A pro-life group has credited Vice President Mike Pence for the reduction of abortions in Indiana while he served as governor in the state.

New data from the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) showed that the abortion rate in the state dropped by 17 percent during Pence's term as governor. There were 8,808 abortions in Indiana before Pence took office in 2012, compared to 7,277 abortions in his last year in office in 2016.

The annual ISDH abortion report also indicated that the state's 2016 abortion rate dropped 8.5 percent from 2015, when there were 7,957 abortions, according to Life News.

Mike Fichter, President and CEO of Indiana Right to Life, credited Pence's pro-life stance with the drop in the abortion rate in the state.

"The pro-life policies championed by Mike Pence while governor made a life over death difference for Hoosier women and children," Fichter said, according to a news release.

"We believe increased informed consent laws and the Real Alternatives program empowered women to choose life during Pence's term in office. Pence frequently said 'life is winning in Indiana' and the substantial drop in the abortion rate shows it. Now as Vice President, we're thrilled Pence is able to ensure life is also winning in America," he added.

During his term as governor, Pence signed several pro-life measures into law including, the 2016 Dignity for the Unborn law, which protected unborn babies from being aborted on the basis of their sex, race, national origin or a potential disability, like Down syndrome. While the courts have blocked the law from being enforced, it started a nationwide conversation regarding the humanity of the unborn.

Pence also approved a measure that required doctors to document their admitting privileges with the State Department of Health and established health and safety standards at chemical abortion facilities.

Additionally, he promoted adoption through the annual Governor's Adoption Fair and an adoption tax credit for parents.

Indiana Right to Life noted that despite the decline in abortions in the state, Planned Parenthood performed 1.3 more terminations in 2016 than in 2015. Seventy-three percent of the abortions in Indiana were reportedly performed by Planned Parenthood and it increased the abortions at its facility in Bloomington by 23.6 percent in 2016, compared with the abortion rate at the same facility in 2015.

The pro-life group further noted that the abortion rate in Indiana has decreased by more than 33 percent since 2008. The highest rate in Indiana was recorded in 1980, when there were 16,505 abortions.