South Dakota Governor Signs Sweeping Ban on Abortion into Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 6, 2006 St. Paul, MN—Today, Robynne Curlee, Executive Director of Programs and Public Affairs, issued the following statement in response to Gov. Mike Rounds of South Dakota signing a criminal ban on abortion into law. “Governor Rounds’ signing of this bill should spur all Minnesotans to tell Governor Pawlenty that they oppose egregious actions that threaten a woman’s reproductive freedom. Minnesotans do not want to see personal freedom undermined here as they have been in our neighboring state of South Dakota. This law is a monumental setback for women in South Dakota and across the country. The ban contains no exceptions for women who are rape or incest victims, or whose health is threatened, and has a wholly inadequate exception to protect a woman’s life. “Since the South Dakota Legislature first passed this abortion ban, pro-choice Americans have reacted with a renewed commitment to protect a woman’s right to choose. They are right to be concerned because this is not an isolated case. Anti-choice politicians in 11 other states are pushing similar bans, and here in Minnesota we are constantly defending against legislation designed to undermine personal freedom. "President Bush has created a climate with his judicial appointments in which anti-choice lawmakers feel emboldened to attack Roe v. Wade. Americans don’t want to see this landmark decision overturned, and President Bush and his anti-choice allies will pay a political price for advancing such an out-of-the mainstream agenda.” Background on South Dakota Ban South Dakota’s criminal ban (HB 1215) outlaws abortion in almost all cases and does not protect a woman when her health is in danger or even in cases of rape or incest. Doctors who violate the ban could face up to five years in prison. Signing of this law represents an outrageous attack on women’s health and represents a step backward for personal privacy. Contact: Robynne Curlee, 651-602-7655 ###
| 
