This will be brief because I have a seminar in just about 10 minutes, but just wanted to bring to your attention that the North Dakota legislature has just passed a "personhood" bill Constitutional Amendment ballot provision that encodes "life begins at conception" into law. This will effectively ban all abortions and represents a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade
It has yet to be signed by Gov. Jack Dalrymple (R-obviously), and no words if he will sign, but I'd say it's likely.
Update - this "bill" is actually a state Constitutional amendment ballot provision that will go to the voters in fall 2014, similar to the Mississippi provision that was defeated several years ago. Therefore, it is not currently in effect and wouldn't take effect for a minimum of ~18 months until Election Day 2014. This is probably a good thing because it allows for ample time to expose this draconian ballot amendment.
Because of the text of this law, it also effectively outlaws in vitro fertilization.
As I just wrote on facebook:
Oh wise "moderates" and conservatives, please tell me again how whenever I post the crazy things that Republicans do that I'm only highlighting their fringe, and that most just love "freedom" and whatever... Yeah, because an ENTIRE state legislature duly elected by the people of North Dakota is really out of the mainstream...
Have at it peeps. Time to fight back.
1:59 PM PT: OK, back from my seminar. Your comments are absolutely spot-on; a sad, but true reality. It's really depressing that we have to fight something like this with humor, but we must attack and ridicule at every moment.
And as pointed out below, some women Republican state legislators are even saying this goes way too far. Maybe they'll get a clue and use this as a shining moment as to why they should leave the modern-day Republican party.