South Dakota legislative committee kills abortion ban bill

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- State senators, by a surprising 8-1 vote, killed a bill Wednesday that would have banned most abortions in South Dakota, marking the third defeat of an abortion ban in the past four years.

Opponents of HB1293 argued that the measure is unconstitutional and unlikely to even be considered by the U.S. Supreme Court. Those who support the legislation had hoped it could tempt the high court to reconsider its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

South Dakota voters rejected 2006 legislation in November that would have banned most abortions. The 2007 measure differed, however, because it provided exceptions for incest, rape, a woman's health and the life of a woman.

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Another opponent of the bill, Gary Snow of Pierre, said last year's ballot measure resulted in an emotionally grueling campaign, and South Dakotans should not be subjected to a repeat performance. The bill would automatically have placed the issue on the ballot in 2008.

"Because abortion is so controversial and personal, the campaign created divisions among friends, among co-workers, among organizations and even churches," Snow said. "The outcome was clear. Voters of South Dakota rejected the referred law for a wide variety of reasons, not just for the lack of exceptions but because many people believe that government intervention in this most of private of decisions is wrong."



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