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S.D. Governor Signs Abortion Ban Into Law
Associated Press ^ | 15 minutes ago | CHET BROKAW

Posted on 03/06/2006 11:33:43 AM PST by Tim Long

PIERRE, S.D. - Gov. Mike Rounds signed legislation Monday banning nearly all abortions in South Dakota, setting up a court fight aimed at challenging the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

The bill would make it a crime for doctors to perform an abortion unless the procedure was necessary to save the woman's life. It would make no exception for cases of rape or incest.

Planned Parenthood, which operates the state's only abortion clinic, in Sioux Falls, has pledged to challenge the measure in court.

Rounds issued a written statement saying he expects the law will be tied up in court for years and will not take effect unless the U.S. Supreme Court upholds it.

"In the history of the world, the true test of a civilization is how well people treat the most vulnerable and most helpless in their society. The sponsors and supporters of this bill believe that abortion is wrong because unborn children are the most vulnerable and most helpless persons in our society. I agree with them," Rounds said in the statement.

The governor declined all media requests for interviews Monday.

The Legislature passed the bill last month after supporters argued that the recent appointment of conservative justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito have made the U.S. Supreme Court more likely to overturn Roe v. Wade.

South Dakota's abortion ban is to take effect July 1, but a federal judge is likely to suspend it during a legal challenge.

Rounds has said abortion opponents already are offering money to help the state pay legal bills for the anticipated court challenge. Lawmakers said an anonymous donor has pledged $1 million to defend the ban, and the Legislature set up a special account to accept donations for legal fees.

Under the new law, doctors could get up to five years in prison for performing an illegal abortion.

Rounds previously issued a technical veto of a similar bill passed two years ago because it would have wiped out all existing restrictions on abortion while the bill was tied up for years in a court challenge.

The statement he issued Monday noted that this year's bill was written to make sure existing restrictions will be enforced during the legal battle. Current state law sets increasingly stringent restrictions on abortions as pregnancy progresses. After the 24th week, the procedure is allowed only to protect the woman's health and safety.

About 800 abortions are performed each year in South Dakota. Planned Parenthood has said other women cross state lines to reach clinics.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: South Dakota
KEYWORDS: abortion; abortionban; checkbreaking; mikerounds

1 posted on 03/06/2006 11:33:46 AM PST by Tim Long
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To: GrandEagle
Life and Death Ping
2 posted on 03/06/2006 11:34:25 AM PST by Tim Long (I spit in the face of people who don't want to be cool.)
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To: Tim Long
The nags will be out in force.
3 posted on 03/06/2006 11:36:22 AM PST by b4its2late (Terrorists will either succeed in changing our way of life, or we will change theirs. - Rummy)
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To: Tim Long
Planned Parenthood is worried South Dakota could turn out to be the straw that breaks the camel's back - meaning Roe. So they will go all out to preserve abortion on demand.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

4 posted on 03/06/2006 11:36:44 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: b4its2late

Can't we just OUTLAW Planned Parenthood?


5 posted on 03/06/2006 11:37:52 AM PST by princess leah
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To: Tim Long
Hopefully this will be the start of a sorely needed process:

States directly challenging pathetically harmful Supreme Court decisions.

Maybe, just maybe, they will get the message.
The Mullas have overstepped their authority for far too long.
Kudos to South Dakota!

6 posted on 03/06/2006 11:45:51 AM PST by 1_Of_We
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To: 1_Of_We

So what's happening on the streets of SD today? Has the rioting started yet? Have their been earthquakes or floods yet? From what the pro aborts have been saying for decades, making abortion illegal would pretty much lead to the end of the world. Looks like it hasn't happened yet.


7 posted on 03/06/2006 11:54:14 AM PST by TNCMAXQ
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To: Tim Long
S.D. Governor Signs Abortion Ban Into Law

South Dakota Rocks!!!

8 posted on 03/06/2006 11:56:00 AM PST by Martina
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To: Martina

"South Dakota Rocks!!!"

Lots of rocks in South Dakota. From the pink quartz of the lowlands to the gemstones of the Black Hills, rock hunting is great in that state!


9 posted on 03/06/2006 12:07:37 PM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: Tim Long

Finally, a politician with cajones!!!!! Let's pray that this is the beginning of the end for Planned Murderhood.


10 posted on 03/06/2006 12:10:19 PM PST by fredhead ("Mine hit the ground first." "Mine was taller." - Kirk Douglas & John Wayne)
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To: MineralMan

Speaking of rocks, isn't Tom Daschle from SD???


11 posted on 03/06/2006 12:23:46 PM PST by proud_yank (Liberalism - The 'Culture of Ignorance'.)
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To: Tim Long

That's OK, Minnesota is just a short drive.


12 posted on 03/06/2006 12:38:53 PM PST by wolfcreek
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To: Martina

I'm very proud of this state. Hopefully many others will begin to follow. An excellent day for the pro-life side.


13 posted on 03/06/2006 5:44:32 PM PST by bushinohio
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To: Tim Long
1st.....PINCH ME!

2nd...why this not in "Breaking News"?

14 posted on 03/06/2006 7:31:06 PM PST by right-wingin_It
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To: Tim Long
Abortion is not about saving women’s lives!

Studies Find Abortions Have Long-Term Adverse Effects

Total Abortions since 1973

45,951,133

------------------------------------------------------------

Why the drop after 1960? (in deaths of women from illegal abortions)

The reasons were new and better antibiotics, better surgery and the establishment of intensive care units in hospitals. This was in the face of a rising population. Between 1967 and 1970 sixteen states legalized abortion. In most it was limited, only for rape, incest and severe fetal handicap (life of mother was legal in all states). There were two big exceptions — California in 1967, and New York in 1970 allowed abortion on demand. Now look at the chart carefully.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Abortion Statistics - Decision to Have an Abortion (U.S.)

· 25.5% of women deciding to have an abortion want to postpone childbearing

· 21.3% of women cannot afford a baby

· 14.1% of women have a relationship issue or their partner does not want a child

· 12.2% of women are too young (their parents or others object to the pregnancy)

· 10.8% of women feel a child will disrupt their education or career

· 7.9% of women want no (more) children

· 3.3% of women have an abortion due to a risk to fetal health

2.8% of women have an abortion due to a risk to maternal health

----------------------------------------------------------------------

So how many women’s lives have been saved by abortion?

Only about 3% of abortions since 1972 were reported to be “due to a risk to maternal health.” A reasonable person would recognize that not all of those cases represent a lethal risk. But let’s say they did. That means that nearly 45 million fetuses were butchered to save the lives of about 1.3 million women. Or put another way; 35 babies are killed to save each woman.

Abortion was legal in all 50 states prior to Roe v. Wade in cases of danger to the life of the woman.

Roe v Wade: FULL Text (The Decision that wiped out an entire Generation 33 years ago today)

15 posted on 03/06/2006 9:34:59 PM PST by TigersEye (Are your parents Pro-Choice? I guess you got lucky! ... Is your spouse?)
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To: Tim Long

16 posted on 03/06/2006 9:40:03 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (We're Americans, we can do anything)
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