Don’t Cross That Line

Ohio is making a strong run at taking the title in the nation's "most draconian abortion law" contest. Earlier this year, the South Dakota legislature made it a felony for doctors to provide abortions, except for when the life of the mother is at stake. Ohio house bill 228, which is still in committee, would make it a felony for a woman to have an abortion performed in the state as well as making it illegal for a woman to cross into another state to have the procedure done. Addtionally, facilitating an out of state abortion or arranging transportation for a procedure out of state would go on the books as a felony as well.

Set aside for a moment the fact that this bill will be tossed into the circular file should it ever be signed into law. The real question is: why do some in the pro-life lobby continue to go well past what most Americans are willing to entertain in terms of abortion restrictions? The large but silent middle of the American electorate favors reducing the amount of abortions, but they aren't for criminalizing the act. Lest we forget, abortions are still legal in the United States under Roe.

Measures like this reek of desperation. With the Bush administration fraying at the edges and the Republican Party at large beset with scandals, this is red meat for the base, a rallying call with midterm elections coming in November. 

Visual Aids

A chart for your perusal, in which the considerable disconnect between certain points of view expressed by the pro-life lobby are examined.

South Dakota governor signs sweeping abortion bill

Today, Gov. Mike Rounds of South Dakota signed the nation’s most expansive abortion bill, restricting it in all cases except for when the procedure is used to save the life of the mother. The bill will most likely be used to challenge Roe vs. Wade.

Utah removes incest exception to abortion

Earlier this week, the state of Utah refused to create an exception for abortions in the case of incest. The law as it is proposed indulges in some rather specious logic, allowing for a minor to bypass the parental notification provision is she was abused or the pregnancy was the result of incest, but at the same time, the bill then requires the doctor to contact the parent’s of the pending procedure.

Raise your hand if you think South Dakota, Mississippi, and Utah had a conference call to coordinate their efforts this week?

Update on the South Dakota abortion bill

Last week the South Dakota Senate passed the nation’s most restrictive abortion bill. The bill, which has to be reconciled by the the South Dakota House before going to the governor to sign, seeks to restrict almost all abortions, only allowing for an exception when the health of the mother is in danger.

Reason magazine’s blog, Hit & Run, looks beneath the surface of the proposed law and raises some interesting questions about what other reproductive issues might be affected if this bill’s constitutionality is challeneged and it makes its way to the Supreme Court. Reason argues that both stem cell research and in vitro fertilization could both be restricted or outright banned depending on court rulings.