States get set to institute abortion ban

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco is ready to sign a bill that would ban abortions except when a woman's life is threatened by a pregnancy. The bill, which was passed by both houses of the state legislature and sent to the governor in early June, would not go into effect unless the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.

Louisiana is following in the footsteps of several other states that are hoping that the more conservative Supreme Court will overturn the 1973 decision establishing a constitutional right to abortion, according to The New York Times (6/7/06). Six states have enacted similar abortion bans that only go into effect if Roe v. Wade is overturned, while 11 states are considering legislation that would make abortion a crime.

In addition, South Dakota's governor had signed into law an abortion ban bill, which would have taken effect in July. It was proposed as a test case for the nation's highest court, which could use it to reverse Roe v. Wade. However, the controversial law is now in limbo as it awaits the decision of the state's voters in November. The ballot referendum was prompted by a petition, in which the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families, an organization opposing the state's abortion ban, collected more than enough signatures to force the issue to a vote, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.