Mississippi Abortion Bill Dies in Conference
Monday March 27, 2006
Category: Abortion
As we'd predicted, Mississippi's proposed abortion ban died in conference today.
Even when the ban was proposed, most observers knew that it wouldn't be enforceable. Federal courts would be bound under precedent to issue an injunction against the law; and in the unlikely event that the Supreme Court even agreed to hear the case on appeal, the ban would be struck down by at least a 5-4 margin. When the bill passed the House by an overwhelming 94-25 vote, I really expected it to breeze through the Senate, which has a reputation for being much more socially conservative. But after House Democrats were lambasted by their constituents for supporting the bill, they apparently reconsidered their decision to support it; and when the Senate came back with wording changes, Rep. Steve Holland (D-Plantersville) promised to use the opportunity to let the bill die in conference. This time, he did not disappoint.
South Dakota's proposed abortion ban is still headed for the courts, and there are similar laws under consideration in Alabama, Louisiana, and several other states. I'll provide a roundup of anti-abortion legislation later this week.
As we'd predicted, Mississippi's proposed abortion ban died in conference today.
Even when the ban was proposed, most observers knew that it wouldn't be enforceable. Federal courts would be bound under precedent to issue an injunction against the law; and in the unlikely event that the Supreme Court even agreed to hear the case on appeal, the ban would be struck down by at least a 5-4 margin. When the bill passed the House by an overwhelming 94-25 vote, I really expected it to breeze through the Senate, which has a reputation for being much more socially conservative. But after House Democrats were lambasted by their constituents for supporting the bill, they apparently reconsidered their decision to support it; and when the Senate came back with wording changes, Rep. Steve Holland (D-Plantersville) promised to use the opportunity to let the bill die in conference. This time, he did not disappoint.
South Dakota's proposed abortion ban is still headed for the courts, and there are similar laws under consideration in Alabama, Louisiana, and several other states. I'll provide a roundup of anti-abortion legislation later this week.
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