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Posted on 04/19/2006 6:24:15 PM PDT by cpforlife.org
BATON ROUGE, La. -- A proposal to ban nearly all abortions in Louisiana moved forward on Wednesday, despite doubts from one lawmaker that it wasn't strict enough and doubts from another that it was too strict to get through the Legislature.
Sen. Ben Nevers is sponsor of the bill that would allow abortions only to save the life of the mother. Doctors found guilty of performing abortions would face up to 10 years in prison and fines of $100,000.
Nevers said he understood that some lawmakers wanted exceptions in the measure to allow abortions in cases of rape and incest. A competing bill, by Rep. Tim Burns, includes such exceptions but has not come up for a vote.
"I am very deeply concerned about women who have been raped, or been involved in incest. And my heart goes out to them," said Nevers, D-Bogalusa.
Nevers said he opposes the exceptions because "abortion is just another crime," like rape.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee passed Nevers' bill without objection, though Sen. Diana Bajoie said she wanted the bill changed to remove the provision allowing abortions to save the mother's life. Bajoie, D-New Orleans, said she objected to the idea of a woman's life being saved by sacrificing a child.
Sen. Joel Chaisson, D-Destrehan, told Nevers he questioned whether the bill could get through the full Legislature without exceptions for rape and incest.
Sen. Lydia Jackson voiced the only objection to the bill, but didn't vote against it.
"I think today it is clear how little control women have over their lives," said Jackson, D-Shreveport.
The bill moves to the full Senate. Nevers told Bajoie he would work to remove the measure's one exception and make it "more pro-life."
The measure passed after two hours of testimony from speakers on both side of the issue, including a doctor who sat at the witness table holding up a jar with a preserved human fetus inside. Women who regretted having had abortions spoke against the bill; speaking in favor were women who had abortions and did not regret it.
"I will forever and always be grateful for the right to make my own childbearing decisions," said Jessica Odell, 23, an LSU senior and founder of a campus pro-abortion rights group who said she had an abortion as a freshman.
Raymond Gasser, a professor at LSU's medical school in New Orleans for 40 years and an expert in prenatal care, testified in favor the abortion ban, arguing that a fetus should not be aborted because "it is a human life, a unique human life."
"There's no denying it," he said.
In the background of the debate over Nevers' bill is a South Dakota law enacted earlier this year _ nearly identical to Nevers' measure _ that is expected to be challenged and appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. If the high court took up such an appeal, it would constitute a reconsideration of its 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that established the right to an abortion.
A majority of the Supreme Court's nine justices have voted to uphold Roe v. Wade in the past.
Related: Debate set for today on push to limit abortion Proposal faces uncertain future in Legislature http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/capital/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1145426434168770.xml
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A proposal to ban nearly all abortions in Louisiana moved forward on Wednesday
Wow! This from Louisiana!! I never thought!
Jules Winnfield says (to Governor Blanco): Go on. Reach for that veto pen. I dare you. I double dare you.
Yes, and a good neighbor (of Texas). It's just, with the French influence and all, I would consider any proposed legislation like this very anti-liberal. Great for y'all!
Louisiana was purchased from France in 1803. Louisiana and France have taken different paths in the last two centuries. That's not to say that Louisiana doesn't have a Democrat problem. Exhibit A: Governor Blanco. Especially in New Orleans. Exhibit B: Ray Nagin. But we're nothing like modern-day France.
LOL
Let's pray this trend continues.
In the end unless people think we should be engaging in a symbolic battle here it makes no sense for the legislature to pass a bill without the big 3 exceptions. Gov Blanco has made it clear that even though she is Against abortion those exceptions have to be in there for her not to veto it. If the exceptions are in it she will prob support it I expect.
At leas t we would have an anti abortion law moving through the 5th Circuit if some bill passed.
Moreover I believe I speak for much of LA when I say liberal France sucks; and my last name is Jeanfreau.
This is excellent news!
But the pro-aborts are already trying to overturn the law in South Dakota as they know that a state's right issue can and will be revisted by SCOTUS
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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.
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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
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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)
Now they have two states to fight. Hoo ah!
And buck Flanco. Veto it, fool.
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