So, what can we do about this nutball abortion legislation?

[liberalhistorian]

I know plenty of people across the state are really pissed off about this, and they're not all libs or Dems. It's been suggested on a GD thread that we literally flood the legislature with coathangers to express our extreme displeasure with their passage of such a ridiculous bill that does not even hold constitutional muster. That's one thing we can do, anyone have any other ideas?

I also know there are some lawyers in this forum (hello, wicasa!); as a paralegal, I know there are some things we may be able to do legally, challenges, etc. Any specific legal ideas?

C'mon, people, this is critically important! We CANNOT go back to the days of women dying or suffering needless injury at the hands of butchers simply because they're desperate, and we CANNOT go back to the days when we are no longer in control of our reproductive lives and freedom.

[sarahlee]

1. Here is one suggestion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=217x3294

And send some money to Planned Parenthood.

[sarahlee]

2. Other DU posts with info and Boycott ideas

Abortion-rights advocates threaten to boycott S.D.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x517459

Keeping info dated in the Choice Forum at
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=217&topic_id=3294&mesg_id=3294

[existentialist]

3. a view from the ground

I just spoke with my state legislator, one Tom Van Norman, who, with most but not all of the pathetically small number of Democrats in the State legislature, voted against this bill.

He stated, (1) that this was definitely NOT homegrown legislation. National right to life organizations came in with tons of money and a highly organized effort in an attempt to get this passed precisely to try to overturn Roe v. Wade. (So who's surprised about that?)

(2) That Governor rounds has, at this point, left the door open just a crack to allow a possible veto, but,

(3) Rounds probably will not veto the bill, UNLESS

(4) He gets about 10,000 letters urging him to veto it. (So far I and one other person I know have agreed to write such letters.)


Obviously letters from South Dakota voters would tend to have more influence than letters from out of staters, BUT,

If you good people who are organizing boycott efforts will let those efforts be known, both directly to Governor Rounds, AND to the South Dakota Tourist industry, who knows.

It might just still be possible to beat this thing.




Second. Even local Republicans think this is stupid. They know full well that this is passed as a challenge to Roe v. Wade, and for no other purpose, and that if it stands it may well require millions of dollars from the state budget just to fight this out in the Courts, and that the State budget is hard pressed enough without taking on such fights.

[Iris]

4. Any word on the 10,000 letters?

[existentialist]

5. I sent one.

That's about all I know for sure.

[High Plains]

7. At least you have a good representative!

I interviewed Van Norman for a story I did on some horrible SD meth bill. He was one of the few to vote against it.

I'm curious, is SD talking about all this boycott noise? I think that's really the best response: A loudly announced tourism boycott, centered on Sturgis.

[agates]

8. The bill was pushed not just with out of state funds but FEDERAL FUNDS

"Abstinence Clearinghouse executive director Leslee Unruh lobbied on behalf of the South Dakota abortion ban under the name of the Abstinence Clearinghouse, despite the fact that the non-profit organization receives taxpayer funds."

See all the rest on how woman-hating female(?) Leslee rakes in federal dollars and wingnut donations, pays herself to be exectuve director of two "non-profits" and more at this link:

http://dakotatoday.typepad.com/dakotatoday/2006/03/big_bucks_in_th.html

Oh, and for more on Leslee's husband, the upstanding(?) local chiropractor who thinks he's a medical expert, check out "The Summary of nearly all distortions and lies by "Dr." Unruh in the RC Journal opinions Saturday March 04, 2006" at this link:

http://dakotatoday.typepad.com/dakotatoday/2006/03/the_summary_of_.html

[sarahlee]

12. You should make sure that goes in the Choice forum

You might put it in my boycott thread. $$$

[LynneSin]

6. I hate to say it, it's going to get worse before it gets better

So while you still can, start stockpiling birth control pills (BCP).

This link from Planned Parenthood includes instructions on how to use BCP as emergency contraceptives

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/medicalinfo/ec/fact-emergency-contraception.xml

For the poor white trash that was dumb enough to vote for these people - let em suffer. But for the liberals who fought hard to try and make a difference, I might suggest stockpiling BCP. If you take several BCP each day for 2-3 days in a row it can be used at emergency contraceptives (EC). Unfortunately people are going to need to know this and use this technique within 72 hours of unprotected sex. For educated folks, like all of you who have been fighting this bill, you're probably smart enough to ensure protection is being used. But unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any protection for those who are raped or victims of incest. So the above link will show you how to resolve that issue.

The one thing to remember is that after abortions are banned, birth control is happening next. So while women can still get BCP, even if they don't use or need it. Just start getting one each month and saving them until an emergency happens!

[liberalhistorian]

9. This is definitely one of those times when

I'm glad I had to have a complete hysterectomy a few years ago, at 37! How terrible I feel for SD women of childbearing age, and I'll continue to fight for them even though I myself don't have to worry about or deal with any of that shit anymore.

[kevinbgoode]

10. Excuse me - I'm not a South Dakota resident. . .however

it seems to me that the biggest...the BIGGEST thing people should be screaming about is how OUTSIDE interest groups are USING your state laws for their own political agenda, and that YOUR elected legislators have become tools of these outside organization.

I can think of few things that will resonate with voters more quickly than spreading the word that their elected officials sold out the people of South Dakota for contributions from these groups. . .and that alone should make people in your state stand up and demand the resignation of the governor and the recall of some legislators.

You need a lot more than just a boycott from outside at this point - what you need is to demand the people of South Dakota hold their government responsible for pandering to outside groups and acting in the interest of these people instead of the residents they are elected to serve. And this requires the willingness to file suit against the governor and the state legislature if necessary, AND being willing to mount a referendum petition to veto this action.

I read in one thread in the GD section that there is supposedly a clause in this new legislation which prevents the PUBLIC from mounting this kind of effort - someone needs to check into this PRONTO - and if that is the case, file suit against the governor and demand criminal charges be brought against the legislators who voted/sponsored this travesty.

There are many, many, many people around the country right now who are pissed off at this action too...and we'll donate money even if it is at $10 a pop to help you fight this - but there needs to be something both organized and direct on many fronts to not only defeat this action but go after the people who prostituted their obligations to the people of South Dakota in favor of pandering to the religious Right.

[Le Taz Hot]

11. One more suggestion

from an out-of-stater? I just keep thinking about all the poor girls/women in SD who do not have the resources to go out of state to have an abortion (we KNOW those with resources will be doing this). But WHILE people work to overturn this legislation, could there be a sort of underground railroad so-to-speak for those needing to go out of state but who are not able to afford it? Transportation, monies for the procedure, a quiet, safe environment for pre- and post-procedure would be goddess sent for these individuals.

[sarahlee]

14. Being worked on

See:
http://roedepot.com/index.php

[Le Taz Hot]

15. Great site!!!!!

:applause: Could I suggest you post this info in GD and encourage to support the efforts? Even if people don't live in/around SD, they could donate monies to any of these organizations.

Again, thanks for posting this information.

[frogmarch]

13. Furor over the legislation

appears to be dying down somewhat nationally. What's happening in South Dakota? Are efforts underway to repeal it? Any word yet on how the threat of boycotts is working?

(I live in NE now, but I still call SD home.)

A road sign I designed:


]