GRASSROOTS EFFORTS CONTINUE TO PROTECT LIFE

By Ann E. Brennan, J.D.
Department of State Legislation

Building on the successes of 1997, pro-lifers found the 1998 state legislative sessions a tremendous boon to the cause of life.

Receiving the most attention is that by the end of the 1998 state legislative sessions 25 states had passed partial-birth abortion bans.

However, pro-lifers were also busy working on parental involvement laws, anti-assisted suicide legislation, woman's right to know laws, reporting requirements for abortion clinics, statutes to defund abortion, abortion clinic regulations, and a conscience clause to protect pharmacists who do not wish to be party to chemical abortions. All of this protective legislation is in place because of the hard work and dedication of grassroots pro-lifers across the country.

Superb Educational Tool

The campaign to ban partial-birth abortions has proven to be a superb educational tool. Through this debate the American public has been forced to face the barbaric reality of partial-birth abortion. In turn, the focus has shifted to the humanity of the unborn child.

In Wisconsin a district court refused to issue a temporary restraining order against the state's partial-birth abortion ban. The law is in effect with litigation pending. (See story, page 5.) Six other states have bans in effect, while the other partial-birth abortion bans are enjoined with litigation pending.

Partial-birth abortion bans have received widespread support. In Alaska, Florida, and New Jersey the state legislatures responded to the will of the people by overriding their respective governors' vetoes.

"In Florida, in previous legislatures we were shut out on the committee level," said Matt Ozolnieks, vice president of Florida RTL. "It has been a pleasure to finally have a legislature that allows for free debate on these issues. Now that the pro-life message is being heard we are achieving great success."

Acceptance of pro-life ideals is evident, he said, in the legislature's override of the veto by the Governor Chiles/Lt. Gov. McKay administration of the partial-birth abortion ban. "The legislature responded to the overwhelming outcry of the people while Gov. Chiles/Lt. Gov. McKay catered to the abortion lobby," said Ozolnieks.

Numerous states also worked on parental involvement and woman's right to know bills this session. These laws have been instrumental in saving lives and educating the public about the abortion industry.

States that have parental involvement laws not only experience a decline in the teen abortion rate, but also a drop in the teen pregnancy rate. Fewer unborn children being killed and countless young women are being spared the physical and emotional scars that accompany having a secret abortion.

Woman's right to know legislation ensures that a mother is truly making an informed choice when she contemplates an abortion. Kentucky overrode its governor's veto of its woman's right to know law.

Wisconsin's law went into effect when a federal appeals court refused opponents' efforts to enjoin the new law.

Thanks to these laws, women are given information about their developing child, risks of the abortion procedure, and assistance available in the community to help them make a life- affirming decision for themselves as well as for their children. It is usually required that the mother receive this information 24 hours before the abortion to give her time to reflect on this life-and-death decision.

When a woman is given adequate information about all of her options she is less likely to abort.

But there are countless other ways pro-lifers have been making a difference. Laws that prohibit state funds from being used to pay for abortions not only protect unborn children but also protect pro-life taxpayers from being forced to pay for something that they find morally repugnant.

Reporting requirements and clinic regulations are also effective tools. Reporting requirements allow the state to monitor the " what, where, and why" of abortion.

By knowing how many abortions are being performed, for what reasons, and on what demographic populations, both the state and the community can better respond to the needs of women who are at risk for abortion.

Clinic regulations protect the health and safety of women from unscrupulous abortionists.

Another important piece of legislation is the pharmacist conscience clause. However, most states have laws protecting doctors from being forced to perform surgical abortions. With respect to chemical abortion techniques, it is very important that pharmacists receive the same protection as doctors.

Finally, a handful of states worked on legislation to add civil remedies to assisted suicide statutes. Both Oklahoma and Kansas were successful.

Civil remedies are important because they allow for injunctive relief to prevent an impending assisted suicide. They also give families of assisted suicide victims recourse against those who were involved in the deaths of the family's loved ones.

The latest round of success for the pro-life movement reflects the perseverance that grassroots pro-lifers have demonstrated over the years. "Pro-life legislators and lobbyists agree that this [passing a partial-birth abortion ban] couldn't have happened ten, five, or even three years ago," said Somona Joy Yentes, legislative director for Iowa Right to Life. "This proves that every election matters and every vote counts."

"Untold numbers of lives have been saved because of the selfless efforts of pro-life men and women," added Mary Spaulding Balch, director of NRLC's Department of State Legislation. "We still have far to go before legal protection is restored to the unborn, but we're making progress virtually every legislative session."