Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report Highlights Women's Health Policy Issues Related To 2006 Elections

The following highlights recent election-related news on women's health issues.

• Michigan: Supporters of an initiative that would have defined a person as existing from conception in the state constitution on Monday failed to turn in the required number of signatures to put the initiative on the November ballot, the AP/South Bend Tribune reports (Martin, AP/South Bend Tribune, 7/11). The proposed initiative was circulated by Michigan Citizens for Life in an attempt to initiate a court challenge to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court case that effectively barred state abortion bans. Although some abortion-rights opposition groups in Michigan, such as Right to Life-Lifespan, supported the proposal, Right to Life of Michigan -- the state's largest abortion-rights opposition group -- did not support it (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 4/26). MCL needed to submit at least 317,757 valid signatures to election officials by Monday, but the group likely gathered fewer than 300,000 signatures, according to organizers. MCL Chair Cal Zastrow said the group now will focus on future actions. Those actions could include collecting signatures next year or convincing the state Legislature to sponsor the initiative, according to the AP/Tribune. Two-thirds of both the state House and Senate would be required to approve the initiative for it to go before the voters, according to the AP/South Bend Tribune (AP/South Bend Tribune, 7/11).
  


• South Dakota: State Attorney General Larry Long's (R) official explanation of the state's abortion ban (HB 1215) on the November ballot will say that if voters approve the initiative, the law could be challenged in court, which might find the law unconstitutional, the AP/Yankton Press & Dakotan reports. Long on Monday gave Secretary of State Chris Nelson (R) his official explanation of all the November ballot measures, which will be printed on ballots to guide voters. The full text of the initiatives will not be printed, according to the AP/Press & Dakotan. The explanation of the ban says, "If approved, [the law] will likely be challenged in court and may be declared to be in violation of the U.S. Constitution. If so, the state may be required to pay attorneys fees and costs." The explanation also details the current abortion-related state law, which says that a pregnant woman can undergo abortion up to 24 weeks' gestation, after which abortion can only be sought if the woman's life is in danger. In addition, the explanation describes in detail the new law and the penalties for breaking it (Brokaw, AP/Yankton Press & Dakotan, 7/10).

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