Louisiana Takes One Step Closer To Outlawing Abortion

Washington, DC — Today, Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, issued the following statement in response to the Louisiana State Senate's passage of a bill to ban abortion. This "trigger" law is designed to take effect if Roe is overturned and would outlaw abortion in Louisiana. This ban does not even contain exceptions for women who are rape or incest victims, or whose health is threatened. The action comes almost two months after Gov. Mike Rounds of South Dakota signed into law a ban on abortion that supporters touted as a direct challenge to Roe.

"The Louisiana Senate has launched an egregious attack on women's fundamental freedoms and privacy. Anti-choice groups and their allies have taken their campaign to overturn Roe v. Wade to the Pelican State, as another 11 states have considered or are considering similar bans. Louisiana legislators have capitulated to the far right and ignored the threat this bill poses for women's health. Louisianans who value their freedom and privacy must let their elected officials know they won't stand for this attack.

"Events in Louisiana only underscore the fact that elections have consequences. President Bush's appointments to the Supreme Court have spurred this blatant state-by-state attack on Roe, and America's pro-choice majority will respond in kind. These assaults on freedom and privacy have implications for all 50 states. We call on voters to remember in November which elected officials stood up for our freedom, and which ones voted to allow politicians to invade our most private medical decisions."

BACKGROUND ON ABORTION BANS

In 1991, when Roe was under siege in much the same way it is now, Louisiana reenacted its unconstitutional pre-Roe abortion ban, which contained exceptions for instances of rape, incest, and life endangerment, but not to protect a women's health.

Three other states already have "trigger laws," or bans that are designed to take effect if Roe v. Wade is overturned: Illinois, Kentucky and South Dakota (which passed a law in 2005 before this year's abortion ban).

Contact:
Ted Miller, 202.973.3032