Greetings from the Coathanger State

South Dakota Governor Michael Rounds (R) yesterday signed a bill that recriminalizes abortion except in cases where the life of the pregnant woman is in jeopardy.

This page believes its important to make a distinction between the life of a woman and the health of a woman. It's bad enough that lawmakers in Pierre have gone beyond their Mississippi counterparts, who at least in their attempt last week to deny women control of their bodies, made allowances for cases of rape and incest. It's worse in South Dakota because no matter how debilitating a pregnancy may eventually be to the physical and/or mental health of a woman, that pregnancy continues as long as it's not immediately fatal.

That being said, this legislation is little more than a crass, opportunistic attempt to pick a fight at the United States Supreme Court, because this time, anti-choice zealots think they can succeed in overturning Roe v. Wade. The recent appointment of Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito have begun to tip the scales the anti-choice way at the Supreme Court.

However, these cases could also be played out in the broader Court of Public Opinion, with the Public reaching a verdict at November's congressional elections. The South Dakota bill will undoubtedly disturb moderate Republicans, and in fact has created a rift within the anti-choice movement itself. Activists had achieved some restrictions such as mandatory parental notification and trimester limits. An all-or-nothing showdown could jeopardize those restrictions if Roe v. Wade is upheld. The controversy surrounding the case also creates a wedge issue that bolsters the chances of liberal Democrats gaining in the House and Senate, and in a couple of years, it won't be George W. Bush making the Supreme Court appointments anymore. Be careful what you wish for, Governor Rounds, you just might get it.