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The States Move On Abortion

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State-level moves on abortion. North Dakota, Arkansas and more are reining it in. Where does this go?

Kris Kitko leads chants of protest at an abortion-rights rally at the state Capitol in Bismarck, N.D., on Monday, March 25, 2013. More than 300 demonstrators attended the rally protesting a package of measures that would give the state the toughest abortion restrictions in the nation. (AP)
Kris Kitko leads chants of protest at an abortion-rights rally at the state Capitol in Bismarck, N.D., on Monday, March 25, 2013. More than 300 demonstrators attended the rally protesting a package of measures that would give the state the toughest abortion restrictions in the nation. (AP)

Roe v Wade may be the law of the land, but at the state level – state legislatures and ballots - Roe v Wade and abortion are under attack right now like never before.

Last week, North Dakota joined the movement, passing the toughest restrictions on abortion in the country. Abortion forbidden from as early as six weeks. No abortion for disease or deformity. A state constitutional amendment lofted that would deny abortion even in the case of rape or incest.

Legal scholars say it all flunks Roe v Wade. North Dakota says, ‘let’s go to court’.

This hour, On Point: states throwing down the gauntlet to Roe v Wade.
-Tom Ashbrook

Guests

Tammi Kromenaker, Director of Red River Women's Clinic in Fargo, the only clinic remaining in the state that performs abortions. (@tammikromenaker)

Bette Grande, representative in the North Dakota House. She sponsored the so-called "Heartbeat" bill, now law in North Dakota.

Steven Morrison, teaches constitutional law and criminal procedure at the University of North Dakota.

Charmaine Yoest, President & CEO of Americans United for Life. (@charmaineyoest)

Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate. (@emilybazelon)

Closing segment on the shooting of a Texas prosecutor and his wife

Tanya Eiserer, reporter for the Dallas Morning News. (@tanyaeiserer)

From Tom's Reading List

Washington Post "What a difference three years makes. In 2010, Nebraska passed the country’s most restrictive abortion law that barred abortions after 20 weeks. By March 2013, 12 states have done so — or passed restrictions even earlier in the pregnancy, like North Dakota’s six-week ban."

The Daily Beast "As they do each year on Good Friday, a crowd of 150 people clutching prayer booklets huddled tightly together in a line along First Street in downtown Fargo. A young man in dark clothing and dark sunglasses wielded a statue of Jesus on the cross. Their collective message for the state’s only abortion provider, the Red River Women’s Clinic: stop killing babies."

ABC News "For women seeking abortions in North Dakota, there's only one place to go. Soon, it could close its doors. For more than a decade, women have driven for hundreds of miles, sometimes up to eight hours, to visit the Red River Women's Clinic in downtown Fargo — the lone abortion provider in North Dakota since 2001 — then getting back in their cars after the procedure to drive home."

This program aired on April 1, 2013.

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