If a woman chooses to have an abortion, it is legal to do that in this country, but I don't think taxpayers should be put in a position to have to pay for those abortions.

In this quote, John Fleming addresses the controversial issue of abortion and its funding by taxpayers. He acknowledges that, in the United States, women have the legal right to choose to have an abortion. However, he expresses the belief that taxpayers should not be required to fund such procedures, signaling his opposition to government-funded abortions. This statement reflects a broader debate about personal choice versus public funding in the context of reproductive rights.

Fleming's perspective centers on the idea that, while abortion is a legal option for women, the financial responsibility for the procedure should not fall on the public. He suggests that taxpayers should not be obligated to contribute to the cost of an individual’s decision, thus drawing a distinction between legal rights and the funding of those rights. This viewpoint is often discussed in the context of debates about government spending and how public funds should be allocated.

The origin of this quote likely stems from the long-standing political and ethical debates around abortion, particularly in the United States. The issue of whether taxpayer money should be used to support abortions has been a point of contention in legislative discussions, especially in relation to programs like Medicaid, which some argue should not cover abortion services unless the mother’s life is in danger.

Overall, Fleming’s quote underscores a conservative stance on abortion funding, emphasizing the belief that while abortion should remain a legal right, it should not be publicly financed, especially by taxpayers who may have different views on the issue.