Gov. Blanco signs abortion ban into law in Louisiana
Monday, June 18, 2006
The Sun Herald
By Associated Press Gov. Blanco signs abortion ban into law in Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, La. - Gov. Kathleen Blanco signed a strict abortion ban into law and a group supporting abortion rights condemned the move as an example of "misplaced priorities of politicians in Louisiana."
The ban has no immediate effect - it will only take effect if the U.S. Constitution is amended to allow states to ban abortion or if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down its own 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that provides for a right to abortion. Blanco signed the measure on Saturday. Planned Parenthood of Louisiana issued a statement saying the new law "endangers women's health by criminalizing abortion at a time when the state is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina and scrambling to prepare for the start of the new hurricane season." The measure, sponsored by Sen. Ben Nevers, D-Bogalusa, includes no exceptions for cases of rape or incest. It would allow abortion only to save the life or the health of the mother. Doctors found guilty of performing abortions under other circumstances would face up to 10 years in prison and fines of $100,000. The law is similar to one passed in South Dakota earlier this year that is expected to land before the Supreme Court. A majority of the high court's nine justices has voted to uphold Roe v. Wade in the past.
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