By Gudrun Schultz
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, June 2, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco has said she intends to sign a bill, approved by the Louisiana House and Senate, that would ban almost all abortions in the state.
The measure, which contains no exceptions for rape or incest, would only permit an abortion if the life of the mother were at risk or if childbirth would permanently damage her health.
“I anticipate signing that bill. It’s got a safety measure for extreme situations for the life of the mother and some other health issues,” Gov. Blanco told the Associated Press.
The governor said while she believed a rape and incest exception would have been “reasonable,” she would not go against the House and Senate vote. “The Legislature has spoken,” she said.
Democrat Sen. Ben Nevers, who sponsored the bill, said he opposed adding exceptions for rape because the crime of abortion would only compound the trauma of the woman.
“Lord knows I would never want to hurt a mother, in any way. Lord knows I would never want to hurt a victim of rape or incest.” But, he said, “a crime committed by a rapist should not result in the death of an unborn child.”
The Senate defeated an amendment proposal to allow the exceptions in a 17-20 vote and then passed the bill 30-7.
The law would only take effect if Roe vs. Wade were overturned. Under the new legislation, doctors convicted of performing abortions could receive up to a 10-year jail sentence and fines of $100,000. The measure stipulates that women undergoing abortions would not be charged with any crime, and it excludes the prohibition of abortifacient drugs.
See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Louisiana Abortion Ban Moves Closer to Passage
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/apr/06042006.html
Louisiana Senate Passes Abortion Ban – No Exceptions for Rape or Incest
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/apr/06042701.html