S.D. to Vote on Abortion Law This Fall

[AnOhioan]

South Dakota voters this fall will decide the fate of a law that would ban most abortions in the state, Secretary of State Chris Nelson said Monday.

Nelson said opponents of the measure have gathered enough signatures to refer the law passed by the Legislature to a statewide public vote in the Nov. 7 election.

The abortion ban was scheduled to take effect July 1, but the referral means the law will be suspended pending the outcome of the public vote. Voters will decide whether to accept or reject the measure.

More at http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2093319

[tsuki]

1. Is it a binding referendum? I ask this question because in my county

in Florida, we put 2 questions on the ballot and voted them down only to find out that the referendums were non-binding. The county commission passed the laws.

[Buford Pusser]

8. The outcome will be binding.

South Dakotans have over-ridden acts of the legislature before, by the same process. In the early '90s, a massive land dump, which would have taken in mega-tonnage of East Coast garbage hauled in by endless railroad cars, was rescinded by a vote of the People after the legislature had passed the necessary legislation.

[tsuki]

14. Good. And thanks. nt

[Demeter]

2. Good!

Time to exert some civil authority around here.

[rodeodance]

9. yes, good news.

[darkism]

3. Ugh! On the ballot in the fall?

It's going to be like gay marriage in 2004 - accomplishing nothing but getting the fundie nuts out to vote in a critical election!

[Lars39]

5. You seriously underestimate their goals:

Top Court to Decide Second Abortion Law Case

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2006-06-19T140956Z_01_N13435477_RTRUKOC_0_US-COURT-ABORTION.xml

[Crowdance]

6. It's also going to get the pro-choice Dem base out this Fall--Yay!

Response to the petition to get this on the ballot was overwhelming. This could be the catalyst to motivate the complacent Democrats of the state to get to the polls. And, in addition, standing up for the rights of women is the principled thing to do for these South Dakotans. This is a great action taken by the people on behalf of the people, and gives me hope that we can, finally, rouse ourselves do something to get our power back from the insane politicians running this country.

[FujiZ1]

4. Nt

Nevermind =)

[NorthernSun]

7. Hope this is not the Democratic strategy

If Democrats run on abortion and guns we are sunk.

[Crowdance]

10. This is a grass roots effort, not a party effort. That's the beauty of it.

The petition drive was organized by The Healthy Families Campaign, www.sdhealthyfamiles.org, not the Democratic party. It's wonderful that the people of South Dakota have decided to defend women's lives; if the party would work toward that end it would be similarly energized by citizens like these.


"The Healthy Families Campaign is the umbrella group for the campaign. It is co-chaired by 16 prominent South Dakota leaders from all corners of the state, from both political parties, young and old, ministers, doctors, nurses, the leader of the largest Native American tribe and two students."

[mitchtv]

11. Yeah God forbid that the Dems

stand up for their beliefs. Better for us if they imitate Pukes. Run, Run Run from the right thing ( who said anything about guns?) We beat the shit out of the punks in Calif on abortion already.

[bleedingheart]

12. on abortion...most folks are pro choice

a lot of people who talk "pro-life" talk are secretly pro-choice because they live in communities that are a bit too religious to handle the truth...

you would be surprised at the number of pro choice folks who are just quiet.

[leesa]

13. I met a nurse from SD at a class I attended in Las Vegas last week, she

works at Planned Parenthood and says people walk in regularily off the streets to just hand them a check to 'fight the good fight' to get this overturned. She says it is completely spontaneous.

[HuffleClaw]

15. typical republican election-year stunt

pretty sad

[Lars39]

17. Supreme Court to Decide Second Abortion Law Case

http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-06-19T141634Z_01_N13435477_RTRUKOC_0_US-COURT-ABORTION.xml

[Zhade]

16. You know, I've said it before, I'll say it again...

CIVIL RIGHTS ARE NOT DECIDED BY MAJORITY RULE!

[demo dutch]

18. The whole world is going forward and we're going backwards!

I can't believe this stuff continues to be an issue!