Rounds Responds on Unwanted Pregnancies

SDPB reports this morning that Governor Rounds has indeed responded to a coalition of nine organizations on the issue of unintended pregnancies. Last month, Democracy in Action, Planned Parenthood, the South Dakota Advocacy Network for Women, and others sent the governor a letter asking him to take steps to reduce abortion by reducing unintended pregancies.

SDPB describes a typical Roundsian response about all the good things already happening in that direction in South Dakota. Kevin Woster at the Rapid City Journal puts the numbers in print: The governor says the rate of unplanned pregnancies in South Dakota has already dropped from 52.9% in 1997 to 37.2% in 2006. The number of abortions per year dropped during the ame period from 919 to 748. Abortion and teen pregnancy rates are well below national norms. The number of abortions The governor does note that the overall birth rate in South Dakota is increasing and that the South Dakota State Medical Association is considering studying unintended pregnancy.

The Rapid City Journal notes that Governor's letter was dated April 30. In his letter, he suggested that criticism of the state's efforts on women's health are really an attempt to generate opposition to the abortion ban on the November ballot (gee, ya think?). Said the governor in a phone interview Monday, "If they want to step in and help on the pregnancy issue, great.... But if this is simply a spin on the campaign to eliminate abortion in the state, I don't think their spin is going to work" [Kevin Woster, "Gov. Rounds Disappoints Women's Groups on Unintended Pregnancy Issues," Rapid City Journal, 2008.05.13]

The women's groups say the governor isn't doing enough. The governor says the status quo is working. And on we go....

p.s.: Reason ponders South Dakota's retread abortion initiative as an example in the context of a broader discussion of the Constitution and individual rights. Closing quote:

So before we get too misty over the will of the people of South Dakota, let's remember that James Madison warned us about the tyranny of the majority, not the tyranny of unfettered individual liberty [Damon W. Root, "Liberty for All," Reason Magazine, 2008.05.05].