Ryan: Strong GOP opposition to abortion will boost party's prospects

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the Republican vice presidential candidate in 2012, said Thursday that anti-abortion activists should work with abortion-rights counterparts to advance their agenda and that the GOP must stay strong on the issue.

The Associated Press/Washington Post: Ryan Urges Anti-Abortion Activists To Work With Those Who Support Abortion Rights
Rep. Paul Ryan, the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2012 and an abortion opponent, said Thursday that anti-abortion activists should try to build a broad coalition and find common ground with supporters of abortion rights as a way to advance their agenda (4/11).

The Hill: Paul Ryan: Republicans Must Stay Strong On Abortion To Win Elections
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) argued in a speech to activists Thursday night that robust opposition to abortion rights is crucial to the GOP's political chances. Ryan's remarks to the Susan B. Anthony (SBA) List gala were his most extended on abortion since the 2012 election cycle, when several GOP candidates lost following controversial remarks on abortion and rape (Viebeck, 4/11).

In addition, abortion regulation legislation in Missouri and Indiana is in the news --

St. Louis Beacon: Koster Won't Appeal Ruling On Law Allowing Firms To Decline Contraception Coverage
Attorney General Chris Koster won't appeal a federal court decision striking down a new state law that allows employers to exclude contraception, abortion or sterilization from insurance coverage. Koster, a Democrat, asked the federal judge who wrote the decision to amend her ruling so that religious organizations could exclude contraceptive coverage if they're exempt under federal law (Rosenbaum, 4/11).

The Associated Press: Tighter Abortion Pill Rules Head To Indiana Governor
A bill that would tighten Indiana's regulations on distribution of the abortion pill and on the clinics that provide only drug-induced abortions won final legislative approval Thursday and is headed to Republican Gov. Mike Pence. The state Senate voted 35-14 to agree with a version of the bill that the House approved last week. Pence has said he supports the bill and is expected to sign it into law (Davies, 4/12).