South Dakota Planned Parenthood Advocate

National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month

May marks the National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. And in the state of South Dakota this is an important month because teen pregnancy rates remain too high despite the fact that they have dropped nationally. In 2008 the pregnancy rate (number of pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15-19) of teens was 53. While this has dropped over the years, and in data from another source the rate was as low as 35 in 2010, this doesn’t mean South Dakota shouldn’t be cautious.

What can we do to continue to make sure that the teen pregnancy rate in South Dakota declines?

Make sure that teens in South Dakota have access to sex education and birth control first and foremost. Communication is also vital. Parents and schools need to have these conversations about sex with teens.

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.

__________________________________________________________________________________

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.”

 

###

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

Email Governor Daugaard

Unfortunately, HB 1237, the bill that excludes weekends and holidays from counting towards the 72-hour abortion waiting period, passed the South Dakota Senate by a vote of 24-9 today.

We have one last time to make our voices be heard, email Governor Daugaard and ask him to veto this atrocious bill.

HB 1237 does nothing to help women. Instead it is just another piece of legislation aimed at interfering with a woman’s personal medical decisions.

The people of South Dakota decisively voted to protect access to abortion in 2006 and 2008, yet politicians in Pierre continue to eliminate access.

Make your voice be heard, email Governor Daugaard now!

The Battle Continues...

HB 1237 was assigned to the Senate State Affairs Committee and could be heard as soon as Wednesday.

That means it is time to send emails to the committee members asking them to vote no!

HB 1237 is not about helping women. HB 1237 is just another attempt at interfering with a  woman’s personal medical decisions.

It is time to remind the committee members that the voters of South Dakota decisively voted to protect abortion access in 2006 and 2008.

Please take a minute to email the committee members right away.

Stay tuned---we will have more ways for you to get involved and help in this battle against HB 1237 coming soon.

Stand Up Against HB 1237!

HB 1237 is the latest cynical attempt by SD Legislators to interfere with a woman’s personal medical decisions.  South Dakota Legislators need to know that South Dakotans do not support this bill!

Please add your name to our petition now!

South Dakotans decisively voted to protect access to abortion services in 2006 and 2008. Yet politicians in Pierre continue to try to eliminate abortion in the state.

Help us remind the South Dakota Legislature now that South Dakotans are tired of this debate!

The battle isn't over yet

On Friday, HB 1237, as amended, passed out of the House Judiciary committee with a Do Pass recommendation by a vote of 9-2 with 2 excused.

Thank you to those of you that contacted the House Judiciary committee, signed our petition, joined us in Pierre on Friday, or have taken the time to talk to legislators and friends about this bill.

The KDLT video found here has some footage from our rally on the steps prior to the hearing!

While our first attempt at stopping this atrocious bill was not successful, the battle is not over yet.

There are still several opportunities to put a stop to this. And we will need your help in this battle.

Email your representatives and ask them to please vote NO on this bill that has nothing to do with helping women make informed medical decisions.

If you do not know who your Representatives are, you can find out here.

Do you want to do more to help?

If you haven’t yet, add your name to our petition to show the SD Legislature that South Dakotans do NOT support this bill.

The Time Is Now

Do you live in District 5, 11, 14, 18, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 32, or 35? (Find out your district here.)

 

If so we need your help right now! HB 1237 will be in the House Judiciary committee on Monday morning.

 

                 House Judiciary Members:

                                District 5 Representative Melissa Magstadt

                                District 11 Representative Christine Erickson

                                District 14 Representative Marc Feinstein

                                District 14 Representative Anne Hajek

                                District 18 Representative Mike Stevens

                                District 22 Representative Peggy Gibson

                                District 23 Representative Charles Hoffman

                                District 25 Representative Jon Hansen

                                District 27 Representative Kevin Killer

                                District 29 Representative Dean Wink

                                District 31 Representative Timothy Johns

                                District 32 Representative Brian Gosch

                                District 35 Representative Don Kopp

 

Please go email your representative RIGHT NOW and tell them that you and the people of South Dakota do not support this atrocious bill.

 

South Dakotans voted in 2006 and 2008. We must remind our legislature that South Dakotans want safe access and for women to make their own personal medical decisions.

 

If you don’t live in those districts, you can still help. Email your legislators to ask them to vote NO on HB 1237 if it gets to the floor of their chamber!

 

Want to do more to help?

 

You can also show that you stand against HB 1237 by signing our petition here!

 

We are all in this battle together and every email helps!

 

Email South Dakota Public Affairs Manager, Megan, to see how else you can help!

 

Thank you so much for your support and help.

HB 1237: Women Can't think on weekends according to SD legislators?

HB 1237 would make it so that weekends, federal holidays, and state holidays could not count towards the mandatory 72 hour wait period.

What are the sponsors of this bill trying to say? The theory on the original 72 hour wait period was that women needed these 72 hours to think about their decision.

So do they think that women don’t know how to think on the weekends and holidays?

This bill simply demonstrates that SD’s legislature is hostile to women and their personal medical decision making.

When will SD politicians stop trying to get involved in a woman’s personal medical decisions?

Take a stand now and sign our petition to show SD legislators that you will not stand for this cynical legislation.

HB 1237 is scheduled to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Monday February 11^th at 10:00AM.

The members of the House Judiciary committee can be found here.

Take a minute to email them and let them know that South Dakotans do not support this ridiculous bill.

Join Us in Pierre!

Pro-Women, Pro-Choice Women 4 Women Lobby Day will take place in Pierre on January 28, 2013!

The day is sponsored by Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, NARAL Pro-Choice South Dakota, South Dakota Advocacy Network for Women, and ACLU-SD.

As always, Lobby Day will be a full day of activities focused on women and the issues that are most important to them.       

After registration at the Capitol’s Visitor’s Center in the morning, we will sit in on committee hearings, observe the Senate and House chambers in action and end the day with informational sessions and a legislative reception. Lunch will be provided.

We are excited to show the South Dakota Legislature that we are tired of lawmaking that attempts to legislate personal medical decisions.

Now is a crucial time for the South Dakota Legislature to see that we don’t want politicians getting involved in complex and personal medical decisions anymore!

Demand that your voice be heard!

There is a $15 registration fee to cover lunch and other expenses for the day. Scholarships are available. Please contact Jenny Rackl at jenny@prochoicesd.org for scholarship information.

Order your ticket online here.

Check out the event on Facebook.

The Team Roe Times May 2012 Issue!

We are excited to present to you the fifth issue of The Team Roe Times in 2012, a joint project between Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and NARAL Pro Choice South Dakota!

Packed inside this issue is an update on Representative Noem and the Violence Against Women Act, a book review for Lizz Free or Die, information on Measure 3 in North Dakota, AND SO MUCH MORE! Please share widely!

Download The Team Roe Times Vol 2 Issue 5