North Dakota House Gives Fertilized Egg Full Rights

BISMARCK, N.D. — A measure approved by the North Dakota House gives a fertilized human egg the legal rights of a human being, a step that would essentially ban abortion in the state.

The bill is a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that extended abortion rights nationwide, supporters of the legislation said.

Representatives voted 51-41 to approve the measure Tuesday. It now moves to the North Dakota Senate for its review.

The bill declares that "any organism with the genome of homo sapiens" is a person protected by rights granted by the North Dakota Constitution and state laws.

The measure's sponsor, Rep. Dan Ruby, R-Minot, said the legislation did not automatically ban abortion. Ruby has introduced bills in previous sessions of the Legislature to prohibit abortion in North Dakota.

"This language is not as aggressive as the direct ban legislation that I've proposed in the past," Ruby said during House floor debate on Tuesday. "This is very simply defining when life begins, and giving that life some protections under our Constitution _ the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Critics of the measure say it will cost millions of dollars to defend. Ruby said the state has been willing to go to bat for other principles that were less important.

In Oklahoma, meanwhile, a state House committee Tuesday approved legislation that would prohibit physicians from performing abortions solely on account of the gender of a woman's fetus, even though the measure's author said there is no evidence the practice has ever occurred in the state.

The legislation passed 20-2 by the House Public Health Committee. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.

The author of the bill, Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa, said it is designed to stop couples from using the gender of a fetus as a reason to get an abortion. Sullivan said a doctor would be prohibited from performing an abortion if the mother specifically said the fetus' sex was the reason.

However, he said there is no evidence the practice has occurred in Oklahoma. "I haven't received any definite information that proves it," Sullivan said.

___

Associated Press writer Tim Talley in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.

Comments

[WorkingClass]

11:14 PM on 02/18/2009

Rock on Zygotes.

[skymuffin]

10:54 PM on 02/18/2009

They really got to adjust their medication up there in the flat states.

[leucippe]

09:17 PM on 02/18/2009

to beerguy: Hey, Let's leave the pope out of it and stop hogging the comments. let other folks have their say. Here's what counts> The last census put North Dakota's population at approximately 677,000 people . [Alaska is slightly bigger with 683,000 or so inhabitants.] True ND has 2 senators like the other wildly underpopulated states (alas) but what happens in N Dakota is not likely to make much impression on the rest of the country. I say to spare our efforts and forget about N. Dakota. I've never heard the slogan, as goes ND, so goes the nation. puleeze. Oblivion and news blackout is the best remedy.

[SharonB]

07:42 PM on 02/18/2009

Before you know it, hearts, livers, lungs and skin for skin grafts will be given full rights as well.

[VermontGirl]

06:33 PM on 02/18/2009

Debate all you want...but "it ain't so" until the IRS says I can take the deduction!!

[Housewife]

07:51 PM on 02/18/2009

Nailed it!

[beerguy]

06:22 PM on 02/18/2009

Pelosi Meeting with Pope Part 6

Pope: (The papal secretary hands him a few typed pages) Being an ardent scholar, Mrs. Pelosi, I think you will be very interested in these citations from the Canon Law of the Church. I will put them in the back of your book. They speak of ways and means by which a Catholic, even a public official, can incur certain penalties for causing scandal or for publicly leading others astray. Suppose an elected official said foolish, heretical things on television for millions to hear? Well, that person might be endangering their soul and could be barred from the sacraments.

Pelosi: (Grabbing the book and curtseying as she backs out) It has been wonderful meeting you again your Holiness. I will read your latest catechism book. Do you need a blurb or anything? I'll have my office contact your secretary. This has been a historic moment for my colleagues and myself — uh, me.

Pope: Madame Speaker, it has been truly hysterical. I will keep you all in my prayers.

Pelosi: Thank you, Holiness. (She and the congressional delegation move toward the door) Go! Rosa, stop looking at the ceiling and go.

Pope: (Turning to his secretary) Was she smiling or grimacing as she left? Her expressions are hard to read, no?


My compliments to the Staff at the NRO for putting this together

[BrettnCalgary]

07:24 PM on 02/18/2009

I must be missing the funny part or the punchline. Sorry.

[beerguy]

06:19 PM on 02/18/2009

Pelosi Meeting with Pope Part 4

Pope: The choice to murder her child?

Pelosi: I don’t see it that way.

Pope: (Opening the Catechism once more) There is a fascinating section . . . Ah, here it is: “Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable.” (Eyeing the assembled) Politicians who publicly and manifestly support such a grave moral evil should not present themselves at communion. Have you read that anywhere?

Pelosi: I told you mine is still in the wrapper. And you should know Holy Father, I am an ardent, practicing Catholic in good standing in my diocese. I present myself with a clean conscience every Sunday.

Pope: I am sure you present yourself, my child . . .

Pelosi: It is really my choice.

Pope: Abortion or communion?

Pelosi: Communion! (Dead silence. Uncomfortable silence. Then in a sheepish voice, she reaches down to pick the mantilla off the floor) I really am an ardent, practicing Catholic. (She crosses herself. More silence) Holy Father?

[beerguy]

06:15 PM on 02/18/2009

Pelosi Meeting with Pope Part 4
Pelosi: Well, to terminate the . . . uh. The abortion. The fetus. The control of our bodies to terminate the choice . . . abortion.

Pope: To abort one that does not yet exist? Didn’t you just say life didn’t begin until three months after birth?

Pelosi: I knew you were going to say that. I said, the Church has not defined when life begins.

Pope: Science has definitively proven that life begins at conception. This is not matter of faith, but of fact.

Pelosi: Well, I have free will, you know.

Pope: I can see that.

Pelosi: In the United States we want abortions to be safe and rare and reduce the number of abortions.

Pope: By permitting more of them?

Pelosi: Yes. Uh. Legal and rare. We want them to be (raising her voice, the mantilla slipping) reduced. We want the numbers of abortions to reduce.

Pope: And to reduce abortions you are dedicating more money to pay for abortions?

Pelosi: Yes. No. We reduce the people by paying for more abortions. But we leave that choice to the woman.

Pope: The choice to murder her child?

[Diogenes08]

06:52 PM on 02/18/2009

Your Pope is full of Holy Crap. What does the phrase "life begins at conception" mean? Can a fertilized egg now suddenly live on it's own? What "scientist" said that?

Get thee to a nunnery... not a hatchery..

[swanie]

08:49 PM on 02/18/2009

A Republican "scientist"
.

[beerguy]

06:14 PM on 02/18/2009

Pelosi Meeting with Pope Part 3:

Pelosi: Excuse me your Holiness, but . . . I, I, I don’t have to read that, I’ve been studying this issue for a long time. The National Catholic Reporter, and the New York Times, also, each had wonderful pieces on this back in the early 80’s, I believe. And over the centuries the Church has not been able to define when life begins. You know — when it actually starts.

Pope: The Church does not need to define such a thing; science has defined it for us. Regardless of one’s belief: Life begins at conception, Madame Speaker. This is a fact.

Pelosi: I knew you were going to say that. And I have to protest — uh . . . We are in a new era in America, your Holiness. It is a time of change. With President Obama’s election we are rediscovering many things . . .

Pope: Has there been some new discovery regarding when life begins?

Pelosi: Well, whatever it is — the Church — Senator, uh, Saint Augustine said it was three months. Life begins at three months. We just don’t know. But whenever it is, it has no bearing on a woman’s right to choose.

Pope: Right to choose what?

Pelosi: Right to choooooose.

Pope: Choooooose what?

Pelosi: Well, to terminate the . . . uh. The abortion. The fetus. The control of our bodies to terminate the choice . . . abortion.



.

[beerguy]

06:11 PM on 02/18/2009

Pelosi Meeting with Pope Part 2:

Pelosi: (Beaming) Why yes, Holy Father, they can be. It is interesting that you should mention that as I was trying to make that . . . the point to George Stephanopoulos — he’s Greek Orthodox I believe — that children can be a real drain on states during this fiscal budget crisis and that contraception . . .

Pope: I am quite familiar with your statements, Madame Speaker. I have attempted to examine them carefully.

Pelosi: Well, I’m glad we are in agreement. I AM an ardent, practicing Catholic and I myself have studied all of these issues very, very carefully.

Pope: Perhaps this will aid your studies. (The papal secretary hands the Pope a book). Some light reading for your flight home. It is the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I edited. Do you have a copy?

Pelosi: No. I mean — not one that I have read. (Nervously looking to Rep. George Miller for help) Yes, I have a copy that is still in its cellophane wrapper.

Pope: I have taken the liberty of marking a few passages for you. I believe this section which reads, “Human life must be respected and protected from the moment of conception,” might interest you.

[beerguy]

06:08 PM on 02/18/2009

Anyone see what happened at the meeting with the Pope and Pelosi? transcript below:

Speaker Pelosi: (Draped in a floor length mantilla, clutching rosary beads) Your Holiness, it is an honor to be with you again.

Pope Benedict: God bless you.

Pelosi: (Pulling a “Obama/Hope” holy card from her purse): The president sends his greetings. (Near shouting) My colleagues and I wanted you to have this as a memento of the historic election of our new president.



Pope: (Faintly smiling): Ah, yes. How thoughtful of you.

Pelosi: (Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Rep. Edward Markey move forward with a huge framed photograph) And this, Holy Father is a little something I thought might look nice here in the library. It’s a picture of me taking the gavel as Speaker of the House of Representatives. (Shouting again) I am the first woman to do so in American history.

Pope: Another historic memento . . .

Pelosi: It really is.

Pope: (Pointing at the portrait) And who are all these children surrounding you?

Pelosi: These are my grandchildren, here. And these are the children of members. Members of Congress. (Loudly) The legislative, elected body that I lead. I’m sort of the pope of Capitol Hill. Uh-ha. Though I wear white only occasionally . . . uh-ha ha ha.

Pope: (Sarcastically) All of these children must be a terrible burden on the states and the federal government?

[rosiebond007]

05:54 PM on 02/18/2009

Dan Ruby is taking us back to the dark ages. Most Catholic countries have now voted for birth control, healthcare for pregnant women and abortions.

It's so amazing that, in this country where pornography is so rampant, adult book stores everywhere, major internet trash, ads promoting product and sex in every magazine or on TV, we have these crusty old people who can't get with the 21st. century. Why, they want to take Viagra but there's no "Mornng After Pill" for us.

I know that life is not fair, but this is more than ridiculous - they need to eat sh&t and keel over.

[Topsailsman]

05:45 PM on 02/18/2009

All miscarriages will now be investigated before a grand jury to determine if the woman carrying a fertilized egg has committed manslaughter or murder through intention or neglect. Failure to report a miscarriage will be a crime subject to imprisonment. Also any reports of a women using an IUD must be followed with a search warrant on the woman's body since IUDs can prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg, causing the fertilized egg to die. This at a minimum would constitute assault and battery. Extreme? Not if you really mean that a fertilized egg is entitled to full rights of citizenship. Drinking alcohol while pregnant is assault and battery.

[Sioux2009]

05:35 PM on 02/18/2009

We already have our own octo-mom - it's Rep. Ruby's wife! Just read a short bio on him - he's the father (I think) of 10 kids! Need I say more!!

[Brightlight]

05:22 PM on 02/18/2009

North Dakota Residents, shops online ONLY. The loss in revenue from the sales taxes will speak louder than anything else you can do.