Assemblyman Travis Allen is one of the candidates for Governor of California (web site). He and John Cox (web site) are the two major Republican candidates. Either of them would make a far better Governor for California than any of the Democratic candidates.
However, for people who value a politician’s voting record to see how he or she will vote and act on policy issues in the future (here as Governor of California), Mr. Allen’s voting record on the life issue is not consistent with his alleged “pro-life” campaign trail statements and claims.
On a consistent basis Assemblyman Travis Allen has steadily avoided voting yes or no on many, many bills (legislation and resolutions) in the Assembly that deal with the life (i.e. abortion) issue. The document I have attached here: Travis Allen 2018 was painstakingly researched and put together by my friend Gina Gleason. It reveals that Mr. Allen has abstained over and over again on bills on the abortion issue. As an example from Mrs. Gleason’s list:
AB 569 (Gonzales/Fletcher) The bill prohibits an employer (INCLUDING A CHURCH) from requiring employees to sign a code of conduct that prohibits the employee from having an abortion. The bill was sponsored by NARAL Pro Choice California. (9/14/17) Note: Even Gov. Jerry Brown opposed this bill and it was vetoed. Assemblyman Travis Allen was present but abstained.
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billVotesClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB569
SJR 19 (Jackson) Both the CA Assembly and Senate urged the President and Congress to support access to abortions, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood, and to oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood. (5/23/16) Assemblyman Travis Allen was present but abstained.
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billVotesClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SJR19
In addition, Planned Parenthood (the largest provider of abortions in the United States) has twice given Mr. Allen a rating of over 50%: 2014 55% and 2016 67% (to be fair he received a zero rating in 2013, 2015 and 2107). Here is PP’s web site for its scorecard (also listed on Mrs. Gleason’s document about Mr. Allen).
The life issue was the main public policy issue that motivated me to get involved in politics as an activist many years ago. Therefore Mr. Allen’s voting record on this issue is very important to me and who I decide to vote for in June. If Mr. Allen is one of the top two candidates out of the June primary and the other top two candidate is a Democrat (none of them have stated they are pro-life) I will certainly vote for him as the better of the two choices. But for the June primary, I have more than two choices and I will be exercising that choice.
I hope you find this information useful in your voting decision on the race for Governor for the June primary.
Craig P. Alexander, Esq. is an attorney at law who practices law in Dana Point, California. He can be reached at craig@craigalexanderlaw.com.