Posted on 03/02/2006 11:34:31 PM PST by WKB
Jackson, MS (LifeNews.com) -- Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a Republican, says he will sign a measure that bans virtually all abortions in the state should it make its way through the legislature and reach his desk. A state House committee approved the ban on a wide margin.
The measure would prohibit all abortions except in very rare cases when the life of the mother is in jeopardy. It does not allow exceptions for abortions in cases of rape or incest -- something Barbour says he favors.
"It hasn't gotten to my desk yet. When one gets there, we'll find out, and I suspect I'll sign it," Barbour told the Associated Press.
"But I would certainly rather it come to my desk with an exception for rape and incest. I think that's consistent with the opinion of the vast majority of Mississippians and Americans," he added.
The measure is now headed to the full state House which is slated to hold a debate and vote on the measure next week. Speaker Billy McCoy, a Democrat, told AP he believes the measure will be approved and advance to the Senate.
Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, a pro-life Republican, says she hasn't had a chance to read the text of the abortion ban but suspects the Senate will be supportive.
"I think this body will look very strongly on pro-life issues," Tuck, who runs the Senate, said.
Like abortion advocates in South Dakota, those in Mississippi say they would immediately file a lawsuit against the legislation should Barbour sign it into law.
Nsombi Lambright, executive director of the American Civil Liberties in Mississippi, told AP outside pro-abortion groups have contacted her about suing.
In committee the lawmakers turned a bill to help women avoid abortions by allowing them to view an ultrasound of their unborn child beforehand into an abortion ban.
Terri Herring, president of Pro-Life Mississippi, said residents of her state would love to ban abortions. However, she worried the Supreme Court doesn't have the votes necessary to uphold an abortion ban and said that the ultrasound bill would have helped stopped abortions immediately, unlike the abortion ban which will be tied up in courts for years.
"We don't know that the current Supreme Court is up to meet the challenge of overturning Roe v. Wade," she explained. "To have a law in the courts would, in effect, not make any substantive change in Mississippi's abortion practices."
The Mississippi measure comes just one week after South Dakota lawmakers gave final approval to the same kind of abortion ban there. Gov. Mike Rounds is expected to sign the legislation soon.
Like South Dakota, Mississippi has just one abortion business. Located in Jackson, it does about 3,000 abortions annually.
Susan Hill, president of the North-Carolina-based National Women's Health Organization, which owns the abortion center, told the Jackson newspaper she thinks the bill is simply election year pandering. She also condemned lawmakers for excluding rape and incest exceptions.
The committee approved the abortion ban on a 19-4 vote.
Look at it this way: do you think your continued existence should be put up for a vote by any legislative body?
Uh-oh. Look for an influx of posters on this thread claiming Barbour is pro-abortion.
I read there's one clinic in ole miss.
I'm an ex-New Yorker that lives in S. MS and a long time Republican/consrvative. I would vote for Haley in a heartbeat.
You'll get your opportunity next year!
He seems like one of the good guys!
Personally, I think these bans are great PR for the pro-life cause. They give the rest of us pro-lifers hope. The bans also show the country's mushy middle, which is politically influential and easily swayed, that the pro-life position is popular. Thirdly, the popularity of pro-life legislation may cow the cowardly SC justices.
How do you know we're going to win in '08? We can't pass up this opportunity. If it doesn't work out this time, we can bring it up again. If enough states pass similar legislation, the pressing nature of the issue will be manifest.
I don't think we need to win in 2008, (even though I think we have WELL above 50% odds of doing so at this point. The dems are stupid enough to nominate Hillary.) Stephens is over 85, and he's rumored to want to retire under a Republican President. I don't see him making it another 3 years without retiring, or, frankly, dying. His health isn't the best either.
We can indeed bring it up again, but then, we'll have a whole new set of precidents to fight, and it will be even more entrenched.
I really hope I'm wrong about this, I really do, but I just don't see good things coming from this. I see NARAL raising a lot of money off of it, I see the laws getting struck down, I see it being harder to put a conservative in Stephens seat, and I see it being harder to overturn it if we actually ever do have a realistic shot.
But, like I said, I hope I'm wrong. I just don't see how else it will work out.
Bader-Ginsberg was caught sleeping during oral arguments yesterday. Might be all the meds she's tkking. The woman is not well.
Why not Haley for Prez? I sure like him better than McCain.
Is the Republican governor of S. Dakota still dithering or has he signed the bill?
"His health isn't the best either."
He plays singles tennis three times a week. If that's not the best of health at 85 - I'd still take it! :)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/20/AR2006022001196.html
He has not. It has been a week since it was passed. Over last weekend and the beginning of the week, the governors were all in Washington for a conference, but he's been back in SD for several days now. Maybe he's busy.
Why not Haley for Prez?
Haley has said he WILL NOT be running in 08
and leave MS is the wake of katrina.
He would be a formidable presidential candidate but I suspect he has baggage from his days in Washington.
He would be a formidable presidential candidate but I suspect he has baggage from his days in Washington.
Baggage in Washington doesn't seem to be a problem.
Look at those under Ted K's eyes. :>)
Haley rocks.
Haley rocks.
Not if you read some of the nay sayers on this thread
who think this is a "bad" thing.
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