The South Dakota State Senate just
passed a bill banning all forms of abortion except when the life of the mother is endangered.
The Senate's version is slightly different the House's version, so it must be approved by the House before going to Governor Mike Rounds for signature. He has indicated he would sign the bill.
The passage of this bill was undoubtedly aided by the ascendancy of Sam Alito to the SCOTUS.
Republican Sen. Tom Dempster of Sioux Falls said, "This bill ends up being cold, indifferent and as hostile as any great prairie blizzard that this state has ever seen.''
Democrat Sen. Julie Bartling of Burke said the time is right for the ban on abortion.
"In my opinion, it is the time for this South Dakota Legislature to deal with this issue and protect the rights and lives of unborn children," she said during the Senate's debate. "There is a movement across this country of the wishes to save and protect the lives of unborn children."
Republican Sen. Stan Adelstein of Rapid City had tried to amend the bill to include an exception for abortions for victims of rape. The amendment lost 14-21.
"To require a woman who has been savaged to carry the brutal attack result is a continued savagery unworthy of South Dakota," he said.
Republican Sen. Lee Schoenbeck of Watertown objected.
Rape should be punished severely, he said, but the amendment is unfair to "some equally innocent souls who have no chance to stand and defend themselves."
The Senate also defeated a proposed amendment to insert an exception to allow an abortion to protect the health of a pregnant woman. That was offered by Republican Sen. David Knudson. It failed on a 13-22 vote.
It's so odd to see Republican politicians working to create safety valves in this type of legislation. And also odd to see Democrats working to close those safety valves.
The message to the women of South Dakota: god help you if you get raped and become pregnant in South Dakota, 'cause the government sure isn't going to protect you.