Anti-Abortion Rights Activists Sense Change Tide Has Shifted, Rally Told; Support Sought For Proposals

The annual Right to Life of Idaho demonstration against the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Roe vs. Wade decision took on added significance Saturday, as much for renewed efforts in the Legislature to restrict abortions as for the 25th anniversary of their legalization.

“This is a critical year for those of us who are pro-life. The whole issue of abortion is finally able to come forward this year,” state Rep. Bill Sali, R-Meridian, told a crowd on the Statehouse steps.

The gathering, which stretched across the street to the statue of former Gov. Frank Steunenberg, was at least half again as large as the estimated 500 reproductive rights advocates who rallied three days earlier to celebrate the Roe vs. Wade anniversary.

Pat Benson, president of Right to Life of Idaho Inc., applauded the parents, members of the clergy and others who took part in Saturday’s event.

“It’s encouraging to us to know that there’s this kind of commitment in our community to turn out to make a statement, to protest what has become the worst smudge on the history of our nation,” Benson said.

Sali called for help in winning passage of three proposals expected to be introduced in the Legislature this session, including a bill that backers contend would ban so-called “partial-birth” abortions.

Opponents insist, and some courts have ruled, that its vague language actually would outlaw not only the controversial late-term procedure but the vast majority of all abortions after the first 13 weeks of pregnancy, except those needed to save a woman’s life.

Not since 1990 have further abortion restrictions been seriously considered by the Legislature. That year lawmakers passed what would have been the nation’s most restrictive state abortion law, only to see it vetoed by Democratic Gov. Cecil Andrus.

Republicans nearly lost control of the Idaho Senate at the polls the following November, and the only incumbents who lost races in which abortion was an issue had voted for the bill Andrus vetoed.

“With the veto of House Bill 625 and a few of the election results that occurred that year, the topic of abortion has just been off limits politically since that time. That barrier has finally broken down,” Sali said.

“I think the tide has turned significantly in our favor this time as well. The political climate is right.”

That is due in part to the high-profile Republican primary race in Idaho’s 2nd Congressional District.

Sali was joined at Saturday’s rally by one of the men campaigning in that race, state Sen. Stan Hawkins of Ucon, who contends he is the most anti-abortion choice for eastern and southern Idaho voters.

Sali, however, focused on what anti-abortion individuals and groups can do to ensure all three pieces of proposed legislation are passed this year.

He called for a persistent, single-minded campaign to convince lawmakers to act.

“The other side speaks constantly and with a very loud voice,” he said.

“They’re aided by the media, but the point is they make their voice heard. And they do it with an attitude that they will not be denied. Have you done the same?”