Update on South Dakota Abortion Bill

As I reported a week ago, the South Dakota House passed a bill to ban all abortions except to preserve the life of the mother. Today the Senate committee on State Affairs amended and approved the bill, so it will go to the full Senate for a vote.

Sen. Schoenbeck moved to add the following language, and the Senate passed it:

"Moreover, the Legislature finds that the guarantee of due process of law under the Constitution of South Dakota applies equally to born and unborn human beings, and that under the Constitution of South Dakota, a pregnant mother and her unborn child, each possess a natural and inalienable right to life."

Sen. McCracken moved to add a rape or incest exception, but his Motion died for lack of a second. McCracken was then the only committee member to vote no on the bill.

I also note that Kate Looby of the Sioux Falls Planned Parenthood was present. For more of Looby's views on abortion, see here.