House Furthers Bill That Changes Abortion Law
Air Date:02/22/2011
By Kealey Bultena
The latest measure seeking to reform South Dakota abortion law is headed to the Senate.
House members voted 49 to 19 to approve House Bill 1217. It doesn’t ban abortion. The measure mandates a woman seeking abortion interview at a pregnancy help center.
Sponsor, Republican Roger Hunt, says that move ensures a woman knows the resources available to help her if she chooses to keep the child.
"This is about information and blocking coercion," Hunt says.
But Democrat Peggy Gibson says pregnancy help centers are driven by ideology against abortion, and the information women receive isn’t without an agenda.
"No woman should be misled when seeking medical care or be compelled to submit to a lecture regarding her personal health care choices from anyone they do not want to involve," Gibson says.
Gibson says a 72-hour waiting period the bill imposes implies women do not think carefully before choosing abortion. Hunt says no other surgery happens within hours of consent.
Member stations download audio file here.
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