Mississippi Governor Presented Award for Passing Strongest Pro-Life Legislation 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 12, 2004
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour was presented an award from a leading pro-life organization that tracks state legislation. Americans United for Life says Barbour’s state has made Mississippi one of the strongest pro-life states in the nation, thanks to several pieces of new legislation passed by the state’s legislature.
"Americans United for Life is pleased to honor Governor Haley Barbour for his leadership in protecting women, their unborn children, and the sanctity of human life," said Peter Samuelson, AUL’s president.
"Mississippi’s tremendously successful legislative session demonstrates the many opportunities that states have to protect the sanctity of human life through common-sense legislation," Samuelson added.
Barbour accepted the award and thanked Lt. Governor Amy Tuck, Speaker William McCoy and other pro-life members of the state legislature that sponsored the pro-life legislation and led the fight to pass it.
"I also accept this award on behalf of the citizens of this great state who have always supported the rights of the unborn," Governor Barbour said.
Barbour said he would continue to work to reduce the number of abortions in the southern state by promoting adoption.
"We who are pro-life have an obligation to promote other choices, like adoption," said Governor Barbour. "It is a shame that there are double the number of abortions in Mississippi each year than there are adoptions — and I intend to push for reviving the adoption tax credit next year."
Terri Herring of Pro-Life Mississippi, the state’s pro-life organization, also extended her thanks to Barbour and other pro-life lawmakers.
"We are pleased that Governor Barbour is not only making great strides protecting Mississippi’s unborn, but he is standing strong by leading the national Republican platform on this issue," Herring said.
Barbour was selected to head up the section of the national Republican Party platform on abortion and family issues.
Samuelson said that Mississippi passed an unprecedented six pro-life bills during the last legislative session. They include:
* Senate Bill 2619 – the Mississippi Health Care Rights of Conscience Act – gives health care payers, providers and institutions a right not to participate in procedures that violate their conscience.
* Senate Bill 2869 protects pregnant women who are victims of assaults and allows criminals to be charged with two crimes when they attack a pregnant woman and kill or injure her baby. The bill protects women throughout pregnancy.
* House Bill 1525 requires abortion practitioners to report to the state when a woman is killed or injured by an abortion.
* House Bill 1612 requires that complete medical attention and care be given to any baby who is born after a botched abortion.
* House Bill 1038 requires abortions to only be performed in a licensed ambulatory surgery center after the first trimester. The bill is similar to those in other states that have shut down some abortion facilities and stopped late-term abortions at others.
Related web sites:
Americans United for Life – https://www.AUL.org
