| Louisiana abortion ban harmful to women |
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Bill endangers health and well-being of Louisiana residents FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2006 CONTACT: Rebecca Wiegand (o) 202-965-7700 (m) 202-427-7450 On Saturday, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco signed a bill that will ban nearly all abortions. This measure is a threat to the health and well-being of women and families in Louisiana. The ban only makes exceptions for the life of the mother, not for rape or incest. Crystal Plati, Executive Director of Choice USA issued the following statement in response to the bill being signed into law: “Governor Blanco has signed a bill that directly endangers the health and safety of women and families in her state. To further restrict access to any type of healthcare when the state is still recovering from the damages from hurricanes Katrina and Rita is irresponsible and unwise. This bill is clearly a political move and only causes more harm to the people of Louisiana during this critical time.” “The bill is especially harmful for the youth of Louisiana. State policies already restrict access to emergency contraception, deny comprehensive sexual education, and require mandatory parental involvement in abortion for minors. The young people of Louisiana deserve a governor and legislature that will use their power and resources to rebuild the state and help their most vulnerable citizens." “Furthermore, as an elected Democrat and woman in a leadership position, we would have expected the Governor to defend and protect the rights of women and families, not undermine them. Choice USA is extremely disappointed with Governor Blanco’s decision to disregard the well-being of the people she represents.” Louisiana joins South Dakota as the second state to pass a severely restrictive abortion ban this year. Both will go into effect if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. # # #
Choice USA mobilizes and provides ongoing support to the diverse, upcoming generation of leaders who promote and protect reproductive choice both now and in the future. We are dedicated to the right of each person worldwide to decide when and if they will have sex, when and if they will be pregnant, and when and if they will have a child. In order to make those personal decisions, accurate information and safe, legal reproductive health services must be available to everyone.
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