S.D. Gov. 'Inclined' to Sign Abortion Ban

NewsMax ^ | 27 February 2006

[Aussie Dasher]

PIERRE, S.D. -- Gov. Mike Rounds said he is inclined to sign a bill that would ban nearly all abortions in South Dakota, making it a crime for doctors to perform an abortion unless it was necessary to save the woman's life.

The ban, including in cases of rape or incest, was approved Friday by South Dakota lawmakers, setting up a deliberate frontal assault on Roe v. Wade at a time when some activists see the U.S. Supreme Court as more willing than ever to overturn the 33-year-old decision.

Planned Parenthood, which operates the only clinic in the state that provides abortions, vowed to sue. But even before the bill has a signature, money to defend it poured in. Lawmakers were told during the debate that an anonymous donor pledged $1 million to defend the ban, and the Legislature was setting up a special account to accept donations.

"We've had people stopping in our office trying to drop off checks to promote the defense of this legislation already," Rounds said.

Many opponents and supporters of abortion rights believe the U.S. Supreme Court is more likely to overturn its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion now that conservatives John Roberts and Samuel Alito are on the bench. Lawmakers said growing support among South Dakotans for abortion restrictions gave the bill momentum.

"I think the stars are aligned," said House Speaker Matthew Michels, a Republican.

The legislation was decried by opponents who said it would particularly impact rape victims and poor women. Currently, a clinic in Sioux Falls is the only place where abortions are provided in South Dakota. The closest alternative is a Planned Parenthood location in Sioux City, Iowa, about 90 miles away.

"It's a sad state of affairs that we have only one choice (for abortion) right now," said Charon Asetoyer of the Native American Women's Health Care Education Resource Center in Lake Andes. "But if you have to go out of state, the cost of making that trip will be prohibitive."

If a rape victim becomes pregnant and bears a child, the rapist could have the same parental rights as the mother, said Krista Heeren-Graber, executive director of the South Dakota Network Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault.

"The idea the rapist could be in the child's life ... makes the woman very, very fearful. Sometimes they need to have choice," Heeren-Graber said.

About 800 abortions are performed in South Dakota each year. Leslee Unruh, president of the Alpha Center, a Sioux Falls pregnancy counseling agency that tries to steer women away from abortion, said most of them do not stem from rape or even failed contraception, but are simply "conveniences."

Unruh said she believes most South Dakota women want the state to ban abortion, and many who have had abortions "wish someone would have stopped them."

Under the measure, doctors could get up to five years in prison for performing an illegal abortion. The House passed the bill 50-18 on Friday, and the Senate approved it 23-12 earlier this week. If signed, it would become law July 1.

A judge is likely to suspend the abortion ban during the expected legal challenge, which means it would never take effect unless the state gets the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and wins.

Rounds said his staff will review the bill for technical defects. He said he vetoed a similar measure two years ago because it would have wiped out all existing restrictions on abortion while the bill was challenged in court.

"I've indicated I'm pro-life and I do believe abortion is wrong and that we should do everything we can to save lives. If this bill accomplishes that, then I am inclined to sign the bill into law," he said.

[Aussie Dasher]

I'd hate to be in the Governor's shoes if he doesn't sign it!

[cubreporter]

When is he going to sign it for heaven's sakes? Is there a certain time he has to do this? What's holding him up? Sign the darn thing and get it done!!! Someone explain this to me please?????????????

[Vigilanteman]

"It's a sad state of affairs that we have only one choice (for abortion) right now," said Charon Asetoyer of the Native American Women's Health Care Education Resource Center in Lake Andes. "But if you have to go out of state, the cost of making that trip will be prohibitive."

It would be a whole lot less than the cost of propping up the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and others of similar ilk who eat out the sustainence of taxpayers.

[upchuck]

Gov. Mike Rounds said he is inclined to sign a bill that would ban nearly all abortions in South Dakota

Inclined?

What kind of a RINO wimp is this guy? Sign the damned thing so the courts and SCOTUS can get on with it.

Besides, we all want to see the libs going ballistic. They do that so well J

[JohnnyZ]

If a rape victim becomes pregnant and bears a child, the rapist could have the same parental rights as the mother, said Krista Heeren-Graber, executive director of the South Dakota Network Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault.

Hypocrite!!!

If that's what you cared about a law could be passed denying rapists parental rights, if that isn't already the case.

She's more interested in killing babies than protecting victims.

[JohnnyZ]

Inclined? What kind of a RINO wimp is this guy? Sign the damned thing so the courts and SCOTUS can get on with it.

Mike Rounds is a solid guy. A challenge to Roe v Wade must be properly timed and executed to succeed. It's a good idea to take our time and make sure we don't screw it up.

Hopefully we can get Stevens off the bench before this thing reaches the Supreme Court.

[The Great RJ]

As a South Dakota resident and pro life Catholic, I still see this bill as doing little if anything to curtail or end abortion in South Dakota or nationally. This bill is crudely fashioned and was basically railroaded through the Legislature. It will be immediately appealed when signed and then begin years of litigation while the abortionists in this state continue their grisly work unfettered. Given the nature of this bill I seriously doubt it will ever make it to the SCOTUS and will be defeated by the Appeals Court.

Our Legislature could have taken a less radical course that would have significantly slowed abortion in this state to the point of not being profitable for the abortionists (it's all about the money) and had some likelihood of surviving in the federal courts.

This bill will just leave the taxpayers of South Dakota millions in debt and not have any affect on ending abortion.

[Giant Conservative]

Abortion needs to be ended: every blow against it matters.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Mike Rounds is a solid guy. A challenge to Roe v Wade must be properly timed and executed to succeed. It's a good idea to take our time and make sure we don't screw it up."

---

Absolutely. And it would help anyone if the law has some sort of technical defect that would get it overturned on other grounds.

While I think Rounds should sign the bill, I'm really of two minds concerning the timing of the law. If Stevens is still on the Court when the law's appeal gets to the Supreme Court (which will not take all that long, since it will be immediately declared unconstitutional by a district judge, soon thereafter by a three-judge panel, immediately thereafter by the Court of Appeals sitting en banc, and then the Supreme Court would grant cert and schedule oral arguments, which would be held not much more than a year after the law is passed), the law will be struck down 5-4, and it may make it more difficult to get a conservative to replace Stevens when he retires.

But God willing, Stevens will retire within the next year and Roe v. Wade will finally be overturned. That would have the additional effect of making Mike Rounds a conservative hero and making him the favorite against Democrat Senator Tim Johnson in 2008.

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

"Mike Rounds is a solid guy. A challenge to Roe v Wade must be properly timed and executed to succeed. It's a good idea to take our time and make sure we don't screw it up."

Yes. That creepy ACLU group that got this horrendous thing going in the first place, must be properly obliterated, otherwise they'll come back to haunt us.

[AuH2ORepublican]

And it would help anyone = And it wouldn't help anyone

[kidd]

I understand, but disagree.

Medical advancements alone make it worthwhile to revisit this law. It will make it to the SCOTUS (Casey vs. Planned Parenthood has paved the way for that review).

By the time this makes it to the SCOTUS, Stevens will be 6 feet under.

[GovernmentShrinker]

"It's a sad state of affairs that we have only one choice (for abortion) right now," said Charon Asetoyer of the Native American Women's Health Care Education Resource Center in Lake Andes. "But if you have to go out of state, the cost of making that trip will be prohibitive."

I never thought about this before, and have never seen it mentioned anywhere: What's stopping Indian reservations from having abortion clinics? If I'm not mistaken, state laws can't prevent that.

[Gopher Broke]

Tell the Governor to sign it!!

http://www.state.sd.us/governor/