Anti-Abortion Activists Push New, More Radical Egg-As-Person Measures

From RH Reality Check:

DENVER - A resurgent movement to place "personhood" measures on state ballots across the nation to ban abortion and comprehensive reproductive care could have far more sweeping implications than the trial balloon Colorado voters soundly defeated last year.

Far from being dissuaded by the 3-to-1 loss from their 2008 campaign to confer zygotes with legal rights, abortion opponents are regrouping with a broader initiative that purports to address life span issues, from conception to death.

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In the News

From the Rapid City Journal:
FDA to allow Plan B Birth Control for 17 year olds

WASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration says it will allow 17-year-olds to get the 'morning-after' birth control pill without a doctor's prescription.The FDA said Wednesday it will not appeal a federal judge's order overturning restrictions that were imposed during the Bush administration. Read more

From Dakota Women:
Failed Personhood Movement May be SD Bound

Just got an email from the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families:
Now, abortion ban proponents have launched a website to raise money and recruit volunteers to circulate petitions for a personhood amendment in South Dakota. Personhood amendments are even more rigid and restrictive than either of the abortion ban proposals in 2006 and 2008.

The alert points to this not so impressive website which seems to be associated with the national organization Personhood USA and the domain is registered to Keith Mason, Personhood USA, Arvada, Colorado. No sign if anyone from South Dakota is actually involved. Read more

http://dakotawomen.blogspot.com/2009/04/failed-personhood-movement-may-be-sd.html

Victory in North Dakota

I am so proud of and happy for my collegues in North Dakota. What a victory to end last week on. Congratulations for all your hard work.

North Dakota Senate Defeats Broad and Sweeping “Personhood” Bill

Bismarck — Today the North Dakota Senate defeated HB 1572 by a margin of 29 to 16. If passed, HB 1572 could have outlawed contraception as well as medical procedures used to treat tubal pregnancies and infertility, impacting thousands of laws in the North Dakota Century Code. “This poorly constructed legislation would have had a profound impact on the state, affecting everything from when property rights are granted, to inheritance rights, to access to the courts,” said Tim Stanley, Senior Director of Government and Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS). “This bill would have put the government in charge of personal health care decisions best left to women, their doctors and families--not politicians,” said Stanley. HB 1572 was backed by national activist groups working to make North Dakota the epicenter of a heated national debate. Personhood USA backed HB1572 and unsuccessfully attempted to change the Colorado constitution with similar language last November. Colorado voters defeated the measure by 3 to 1.

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Victory for our friends up North!

As you most likely know our Planned Parenthood affiliate is a three state affiliate: Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota. And, while our state is no stranger to extremist groups trying to pass laws that put government in the middle of personal, family decisions, our friends in North Dakota have had quite the fight this legislative session.

I am so happy to share a victory for our collegues and friends up north. The battle isn't over yet, but this is certainly a step in the right direction.

GRAND FORKS HERALD
N.D. panel reviews abortion bills