Gov. Steve Bullock: ‘Like Begins at Viability’ But Not My Decision if Women Want to Abort

TAPPER: I want to get your take on one of the biggest stories of the last week.

Alabama passed the most restrictive abortion law in a generation, with the goal of reversing Roe v. Wade. I know you don't support the law, but it has reignited this debate over abortion and abortion rights in this country. 

I wanted to ask you, just more philosophically, some lawmakers believe life begins at conception, others at a heartbeat, others at implantation, others at viability outside the womb. When do you think life begins? 

BULLOCK: Well, I think that, ultimately, the Supreme Court settled this 45 years ago. And it's not my decision to be making what the decision that a woman needs to make, in consultation with her doctor and her family and her faith, if she so chooses. 

TAPPER: I get that that's your political position. But, more philosophically, when do you think life begins, when you think about the process? Do you think it's fetal viability, implantation? I mean, this is just a discussion people have.

BULLOCK: Sure. I would say that life begins at viability. 

But, either way, it's not up to people like me to be making these decisions. And I think that's the greater point. And it's not what I think. It's that what does an individual woman need to do with her body and with her health care? And those aren't decisions that I should be making.