NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Louisiana Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco signed into law a ban on most abortions that would be triggered if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns its 1973 ruling legalizing the procedure, a spokesman said on Saturday.
The ban would apply to all abortions, even in cases of rape or incest, except when the mother's life is threatened. It is similar to a South Dakota law that has become a battleground in the abortion debate.
The South Dakota law was enacted partly to invite a court challenge in the hope a more conservative Supreme Court would overturn its Roe v. Wade decision that established a woman's right to abortion.
The Louisiana ban would take effect if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Medicaid, which provides health benefits for the poor and disabled, requires funding for abortions in cases of rape or incest. Louisiana would allow those exceptions so long as it was required for Medicaid funding. (emphasis added)
Seven states supposedly have similar abortion "trigger" laws (though a list of those seven states has proven to be impossible to find). This is obviously another reason why the pro-abortion crowd in South Dakota is trying to avoid a lawsuit as they challenge the South Dakota abortion ban law.
I believe the 7 states are Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, and Utah.
Posted by: Moneybags | September 03, 2006 at 11:48 AM