Anti-Abortion Group Endorses Otter, Lauds his Record

Sept. 30--BOISE -- The anti-abortion group Idaho Chooses Life announced Monday that it is backing Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's re-election bid.

In a news release, the group cited the incumbent's Republican's record of signing legislation they support as their reason for backing him.

"There's no other governor in history that even comes close to the record that he's built," said David Ripley, the ICL's executive director.

Among these laws are one requiring parental notification for minors getting abortions; requiring doctors to offer pre-abortion ultrasounds; a ban on paying for abortions under the state-run health insurance exchange; and a law saying health-care providers can't be required to provide services that violate their conscience.

Otter also signed a law in 2011 banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. This was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge last year. The state is appealing the ruling.

Ripley said his group plans to work between now and Election Day to remind voters of Otter's record on the issue. In a third Otter term, Ripley said, he wants to push for state-level restrictions on RU-486, an abortifacient drug used early in a pregnancy that was approved for use in the U.S. in 2000. Ripley said he worries about the drug's potential health risks.

Idaho has one of the lowest abortion rates in the country, according data compiled by the Guttmacher Institute, an advocacy group on sexual and reproductive health issues. Six percent of pregnancies in Idaho in 2011 ended in abortions compared to 18 percent nationally. According to the CAIR Project, a pro-abortion rights group, there are three abortion providers in Idaho -- two in the Boise</location> area, one in Twin Falls -- and Idaho women sometimes travel to Washington, Oregon, or Utah for abortions.

There isn't much recent state-level polling data on the question; a 2007 CNN poll of the 1st Congressional District, which covers the western part of the state, found 50 percent of voters identifying as pro-life and 45 percent as pro-choice.

Otter is running against Democrat A.J. Balukoff and Libertarian John Bujak. Balukoff said in an email Monday that he opposes abortion, except in rare circumstances, but doesn't support further restrictions, either.

"This difficult decision is best made by a woman in consultation with trusted advisers such as her doctor, family or church leaders," he said. "I support the existing law in Idaho."

"He's made it pretty clear he (supports) the status quo on ... the right to have an abortion, which I think is troubling, and it made it pretty easy for us to make the endorsement," Ripley said of Balukoff.

Bujak said he is also against abortion and supports laws that reduce the number of them.

"I'm pro-life," he said. "I've let people know, if I'm elected governor, I would encourage legislation to enter into some pro-life discussions."

___

(c)2014 The Times-News (Twin Falls, Idaho)

Visit The Times-News (Twin Falls, Idaho) at magicvalley.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services