Issues: Restrictions on Abortion and Stem Cell Research
States with ballot initiatives: California, Missouri, South Dakota
Why it matters: The outcome of these battles will embolden proponents to push initiatives in other states — and use them to claim support for federal legislation. Objectively, stem cell research and abortion rights are very different issues. But seen from the right, they are closely linked.
California
Proposition 85 – Abortion Waiting Period and Parental Notification
Missouri
Amendment 2 – Stem Cell ResearchYes: 469.5k No: 522.6k This is a double negative, so a no vote would mean stem cell restrictions.
Sponsors would prohibit state or local governments from preventing or discouraging lawful stem cell research, therapies and cures. Opponents — who use jocks and actors in their ads instead of scientists and advocates for cures — include religious conservatives from across the nation opposed to cloning, abortion and same-sex marriage.
The measure would make Missouri the only state besides California to include the right to stem cell research in its state constitution.
South DakotaReferred Law 6 – Toughens already restrictive state laws against abortion.
Tild's postcard has it about right. The same forces fighting the Missouri stem cell amendment are pushing this initiative. Alan Keyes, a former Republican candidate for president and proponent of the law, has been visiting churches in the state.
“Abortion does at the physical level what homosexual marriage does at the institutional level,” he said, calling them one and the same issue and explaining that both go against what God intended.
According to coverage of one such rally:
Rapid City pediatrician Don Oliver also commented during the rally. He said one of his patients gave him hope that voters would uphold the ban. The 16-year-old patient was raped by her brother and had decided to keep the baby.
“I have faith that if a 16-year-old can get it right, so can South Dakotans,” he said.
