TcMedicine

South Dakota Gov. Rounds In News Conference Distances Himself From Law Banning Abortion

South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds (R) in a news conference on Tuesday distanced himself from a state law (HB 1215) that bans all abortions in the state except to save a pregnant woman’s life, saying he has no current plans to “actively campaign” in support of or opposition to the law if the issue goes before state voters in November, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports. “When people asked my opinion, I would share with them that my preference would be to take Roe v. Wade” — the 1973 Supreme Court decision barring state abortion bans — “apart piece by piece,” Rounds said. He added, “But other than that, … this is [the law’s supporters’] opportunity to find out, at least in the next few years, whether or not the Supreme Court would entertain this as the right vehicle to address abortion within the United States.” When asked about the law’s lack of an exception for cases involving rape or incest, Rounds replied, “I did not write this bill” (Woster, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 3/8). He added that although the law does not allow abortion in cases of rape or incest, survivors still will have access to emergency contraceptives, which can prevent pregnancy if taken up to 72 hours after sexual intercourse (Brokaw, AP/Aberdeen American News, 3/7). Rounds said, “So if you do have an individual who has been victimized with rape or incest, there is a time period in which this bill does not apply to contraceptive drugs and so forth being utilized.” The law says EC can be administered until tests can determine whether a woman is pregnant, according to the Argus Leader. Rounds said that time period is about five to seven days (Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 3/8). White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan on Tuesday reiterated President Bush’s position on abortion rights, saying Bush is “pro-life with three exceptions: rape, incest and when the life of the mother is in danger.” McClellan called the law a “state matter” and added that the law “was passed by the South Dakota Legislature and signed into law by the governor of that state. … The president’s view when it comes to pro-life issues has been very clearly stated, and his actions speak very loudly, too” (AP/Dallas Morning News, 3/7).

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