South Dakota Planned Parenthood Advocate

ND Governor Dalrymple Signs Virtual Abortion Ban

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3/26/13

 

Governor Dalrymple Signs Virtual Abortion Ban;

North Dakota Braces for Litigation as “Personhood” Heads to 2014 Ballot

Fargo, ND – Today, Governor Dalrymple signed a near total abortion ban into law, effectively making North Dakota one of the most hostile states in the country towards women’s health. Governor Dalrymple secured North Dakota’s place in history as the state with the most extreme ban on abortion by signing one bill that will ban safe and legal abortion as early as 6 weeks — before a woman may even know she is pregnant. There are no exceptions if a woman has been the victim of rape, if her health is threatened, or if she will lose the pregnancy due to fetal anomalies. This comes on the heels of last week’s actions by the North Dakota Legislature which launched the state into a bitter, 20-month battle over “personhood” leading up to the 2014 election. Planned Parenthood will work in partnership with a broad coalition of doctors, patients, teachers, lawyers and others to educate our fellow North Dakotans about the far-reaching consequences and impact of “personhood.”

 

The following is a statement by Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota President and CEO, Sarah Stoesz.

“With his signature, today Governor Dalrymple severely compromised the health and well-being of all North Dakota women and their families.”

 

“This sweeping package of bills will not stand up to constitutional scrutiny. But as a result of North Dakota’s leaders’ disregard for women’s health, the state will endure months and years of drawn-out litigation costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. What a reckless and appalling waste of resources.”

 

“One thing became clear during the last few weeks: North Dakotans do not want to see politicians interfering with the personal medical decisions of women. Hundreds of grassroots activists spoke loudly and clearly as these bills moved through the legislature. Planned Parenthood was proud to play a role in amplifying the voices of North Dakotans who bravely stood in opposition to this abortion ban.”

 

“What’s left of the legislature’s all-out assault on women’s health is what will no doubt be a grueling, months-long battle over “personhood” leading up to the 2014 election. “Personhood” measures are so extreme even the most conservative states, like Mississippi, have rejected them. North Dakotans know that decisions about pregnancy and abortion are deeply personal and very complex. The grassroots uprising we saw in Bismarck and Fargo was just a taste of what’s to come as voters in the state learn about the dangers of this constitutional amendment. In 2014, North Dakotans will have the opportunity to stand up to these politicians and say ‘enough is enough.’”

 

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South Dakota Governor Signs Bill Extending Waiting Period for Abortion

On Friday, Governor Daugaard signed HB 1237 into law.  Friday was also International Women’s Day. Not exactly how one would hope South Dakota would celebrate.

HB 1237, extends the mandatory abortion waiting period by excluding weekends and holidays from counting towards it.

Below is the statement that PPMNS released in regards to Governor Daugaard signing this bill into law.

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Today, Governor Daugaard signed a bill into law that will exclude weekends and holidays from the calculation of a 72-hour waiting period for an abortion, which will result in a longer waiting period for many women and a further erosion of access to abortion in the state. The following is a statement from Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota President and CEO Sarah Stoesz.

“Today’s Governor Daugaard signed into law a longer waiting period for abortion, once again proving the state’s hostility to women’s health and partiality to Crisis Pregnancy Centers, which are known for misleading and coercing women.”

“We are very disappointed that the state is further burdening women with medically unnecessary waiting periods for abortion. We will continue to stand with the women of South Dakota and fight for their access to safe and legal abortion, should they need to consider it.”

“These decisions that women and families are faced with are deeply personal and complex. Politicians have no place interfering with the personal medical decisions of women and families.”

 

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For more than 80 years, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota has worked in our region to make sure all people have the information and the means to make free and responsible decisions about whether and when to have children.  Planned Parenthood operates 20 clinics in Minnesota and South Dakota and an Online Health Center, providing quality and affordable family planning, reproductive health care services and education to nearly 64,000  women and men each year.

Visit us on the web at www.ppmns.org

Planned Parenthood Congratulates North Dakotans Against Measure Three on Election Night Victory

Over the past several weeks, health care providers, former judges, prosecutors, doctors, lawyers, child advocates, victim advocates, religious leaders and social workers from all across the state joined together to help North Dakotans Against Measure Three raise awareness about the so called "Religious Liberty Restoration Amendment." Tonight, voters overwhelmingly rejected the measure.

Statement from Sarah Stoesz, President of the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund

“Planned Parenthood has been working in North Dakota for many years, and the health and well being of North Dakota’s families is so important to us. Our deepest congratulations go to North Dakotans Against Measure Three for this victory.

“Tonight, North Dakotans – with a strong and clear NO vote – affirmed that religious liberty is securely protected in the US Constitution. Measure Three was divisive, unnecessary and could have had dangerous consequences. Tonight’s vote protects state laws against child abuse or neglect, laws against domestic violence, laws that affect access to health care, including birth control, and laws that ensure equal opportunity in the workplace.”

“We applaud North Dakotans Against Measure Three for working tirelessly to educate voters about the dangerous consequences this amendment could have had for women and families in the state.”

 

A High-Five, a Shout-Out, or a Thank You

By: Cecile Richards, President Planned Parenthood Federation of America

  Last week, the Senate rejected the Blunt amendment, a measure that would have allowed any employer to deny women who work for them insurance coverage for any essential health benefit, including birth control, for any moral or religious reason. After weeks of debate and an enormous outcry from Planned Parenthood supporters nationwide, the message is clear: birth control is basic health care, and your medical decisions should be between you and your doctor.

This is a huge victory for women's health, and I’m pleased to say that Senator Johnson voted to defend access to affordable birth control. Please take a moment to thank Senator Johnson for voting to protect women’s health and ask them to keep up the fight.

Statement of Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, on the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Decision to Reinstate Funding for Breast Cancer Screenings at Planned Parenthood Health Centers Nationwide

The outpouring of support for women in need of lifesaving breast cancer screening this week has been astonishing and is a testament to our nation's compassion and sincerity.

This show of support underscores what a critical resource Planned Parenthood is in the fight to detect and prevent breast cancer.  We were so heartened by the calls and emails we received from people in our region, who made it clear that they did not like to see politics playing a role in women’s health care. 

Planned Parenthood Statement on Komen Foundation Succumbing to Political Pressure and Ending Breast Cancer Prevention Funding

Planned Parenthood today expressed deep disappointment in response to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation’s decision to stop funding breast cancer prevention, screenings, and education at Planned Parenthood health centers. Anti-women’s health groups have repeatedly targeted and boycotted the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation for partnering with Planned Parenthood to provide these lifesaving cancer screenings and news articles suggest that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation ultimately succumbed to these pressures.

“As a health care provider to more than 60,000 women in our community, Planned Parenthood is trusted a leader in helping women identify breast cancer early. Women are deeply alarmed that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation appears to have succumbed to political pressure from a vocal minority”, said Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS). “For years, opponents of women’s health have waged an aggressive pressure campaign aimed at the Susan G. Komen Foundation at the expense of women’s health and lives.”

Planned Parenthood Recognizes National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month By Urging Women to Get Regular Checkups

Making New Year’s resolutions? As part of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS) is urging women in South Dakota to put preventive checkups, including cervical cancer screenings, at the top of their lists. 

Every year, approximately 13,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and about 4,000 American women die of the disease. 

Planned Parenthood Statement on FDA Decision to Maintain Current Age Restrictions for Emergency Contraception

We are disappointed that the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has chosen to maintain the current age restriction on emergency contraception, as the decision has no medical basis and goes against the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recommendation. Multiple studies have shown that use of emergency contraception by young women under the age of 17 is safe and effective, and that teens are no more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior when they have unrestricted access to emergency contraception.

“Young women and teens can still rely on Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS) to be here for them when they are seeking preventive health services,” said Sarah Stoesz, PPMNS President and CEO. “PPMNS offers emergency contraception to those who need it at an affordable price.”

Planned Parenthood Statement on Decision by Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals To Rehear South Dakota Biased Counseling Law

Today the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals announced they will hold an en banc hearing on South Dakota’s “informed consent” law that requires a doctor to tell a woman who is seeking an abortion that she faces an “increased risk of suicide ideation and suicide.” This comes after a three judge panel of the court struck down this requirement in September, finding there is no reliable medical evidence for a link between abortion and an increase in mental health problems.

“The scientific research is on our side,” said Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS). “We are confident that the en banc court, after reviewing the merits of this issue, will uphold two prior decisions which held that the weight of reliable evidence says abortion does not subject women to an increased risk of suicide.”

Statement of Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, on Politically Motivated Attack Against Planned Parenthood Affiliates Nationwide

September 27th, 2011 – “We are outraged that U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is putting politics before women’s health with a politically motivated Congressional investigation of Planned Parenthood affiliates nationwide. This attack is intended to undermine Planned Parenthood’s ability to provide essential health care services to the women, men and teens who rely on them. 

Across the nation, unemployment and poverty rates are rising and homes are in foreclosure. Instead of attending to the most pressing needs of families and working to create jobs, this congressional committee is using tax-payer dollars to target a non-profit health care provider whose mission is to serve the most vulnerable in this economy.   

Planned Parenthood is a trusted health care provider that provides professional, reliable and quality health care across the state. For over 20 years, South Dakota’s families have relied on Planned Parenthood for primary and preventive care such as annual exams, birth control, lifesaving cancer screenings, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV. 

As a trusted health care provider, Planned Parenthood routinely works with government regulators, nonprofit foundation donors, and independent auditors to ensure compliance with all rules and regulations regarding any funding it receives. In the rare instance when an irregularity is discovered, it is taken seriously and handled swiftly and appropriately.

Last year, Planned Parenthood provided basic health care to nearly 64,000 women, men and teens in the region, the vast majority of whom live at or below the federal poverty level and are without health insurance. Politically motivated attacks such as these will only increase the burden for those who can least afford it.”

CONTACT: Jen Aulwes
651.755.9557