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South Dakota Votes on Most Restrictive Abortion Law in Country: A Debate

by Democracy Now (reposted)
On Election Day, voters in South Dakota will be asked to consider implementing the most restrictive abortion law in the country. A law passed earlier this year made it a felony for health providers to perform abortions - even in cases of rape or incest - unless the procedure is necessary to prevent the death of the mother. But pro-choice advocates managed to block the state from enacting the law. They collected about 38,000 signatures to force a statewide referendum. We go to South Dakota and neighboring Minneapolis to hear from both sides of the debate.
On Election Day, voters in South Dakota will be asked to consider implementing the most restrictive abortion law in the country. Earlier this year South Dakota lawmakers passed a near total ban on abortions. The law made it a felony for health providers to perform abortions - even in cases of rape or incest - unless the procedure is necessary to prevent the death of the mother Under the law, doctors could face up to five years in prison and a five thousand dollar fine for performing an abortion. But pro-choice advocates managed to block the state from enacting the law. They collected about 38,000 signatures to force a statewide referendum. Observers around the country see the battle in South Dakota as a bellwether for what can happen in other states – at least a dozen states have similar legislation pending.

Today - we hear from both sides. The Campaign for Healthy Families and Planned Parenthood declined to debate the issue - so first we go to South Dakota where a representative of the Vote Yes For Life Campaign joins us. Dr. Allen Unruh is a chiropractor in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is co-founder of the Abstinence Clearinghouse, and served on the South Dakota Task Force to Study Abortion. He joins us from Sioux Falls.

* Dr. Allen Unruh. Dr. Allen Unruh is a chiropractor in in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is the co-founder of the Abstinence Clearinghouse, and served on the South Dakota Task Force to Study Abortion. He is a member of the Vote Yes For Life Campaign.

As we continue our discussion on the South Dakota abortion vote, Sarah Stoesz joins us now from Minneapolis -- she is the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Planned Parenthood has been deeply involved in the issue. The organization’s clinic in Sioux Falls is the only clinic in South Dakota that currently performs abortions. Doctors from neighboring Minnesota come to the clinic eight days a month.

* Sarah Stoesz. President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota.

LISTEN ONLINE:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/11/03/1431244
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I'm pro-choice
Mon, Nov 6, 2006 10:18AM
Fuck South Dakota
Fri, Nov 3, 2006 10:37AM
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