Democracy Works in S. Dakota

The LA Times (link courtesy of HeraldNet.com) is reporting that a grass roots petition drive against the S. Dakota's nearly complete abortion ban is gaining steam. "Volunteers pushing to overturn the nation's most far-reaching abortion ban are surprised and delighted by the response as they circulate petitions to put the law up for a public vote," the paper reports, "Even in the most conservative corners of this conservative state, both Republicans and Democrats - including some voters who say they oppose abortion - are eagerly signing the petition. In two weeks, volunteers have collected a third of the signatures they need to get a November referendum on the ban."

See, this is what happens when you shove legislation that most people oppose through the legislature - it comes back to bite you in the ass. And this movement has the teeth to do it.

"Even opponents expect the petition campaign to easily collect the 17,000 valid signatures needed to put the referendum on the ballot," the article states, "That would put the abortion law into legal limbo, on hold until the November election. If voters reject the law, it will be stricken from the books. If they uphold it, abortion-rights activists could still sue to block its enforcement."

The entire purpose of this law was to force a more right leaning Supreme Court to revisit Roe v. Wade. If the referendum is as successful as the petition drive, it'll never even get that far.

--Wisco
(Keywords: politics, pro-choice, pro-life, religious right, feminism, elections )