CONTROVERSIAL

S. Dakota Signs New Abortion Bill

Requires women to wait three days.

Abortion-rights groups are up in arms and already threatening to file suit against a bill signed by South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard on Tuesday. The measure requires women to wait three days—the longest waiting period in the country—after meeting with a doctor to have an abortion. It also forces them to receive counseling at antiabortion pregnancy health centers. "I think everyone agrees with the goal of reducing abortion by encouraging consideration of other alternatives," Daugaard said. "I hope that women who are considering an abortion will use this three-day period to make good choices." Those opposing the law, which is slated to go into effect July 1, argue that it violates women's right to abortion, and that the imposed counseling is an unnecessary burden.