This is why I hate this issue.

The Argus Leader is reporting tonight that there is a new organization forming to place the hb1215 measure on the ballot as a referred issue. Great. Just what we needed. An organized battle.

Opponents of the ban have been planning a petition drive to refer the law to a public vote, and that effort will likely begin tomorrow.

After Friday's announcement, a training session will be held on how to gather petition signatures, Planned Parenthood told its supporters today."

It is very important that we have lots of activists there," according to an email from
Planned Parenthood's regional office.

Several groups opposed to the ban have expressed support for such a referendum. To get the abortion ban on the Nov. 7 ballot, opponents would need to gather 16,728 signatures by June 19. Friday’s news conferences by the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families are set for 11 a.m. central time at the downtown library in Sioux Falls and a senior citizens' center in Rapid City.

Jan Nicolay, identified as the contact person for the newly organized group, wouldn’t confirm that its focus is a referendum.

Nicolay, a former state legislator and Sioux Falls educator, described Campaign for Healthy Families as “a group you’ll hear more about tomorrow.”

She said the organization has a goal of “taking care of families and children” and its formation was prompted by passage of the abortion ban and other legislative debate during the past session.

I went out and checked this website. What's the first thing this group being led by Jan does? Bashes the Governor for signing HB1215 in a little animated graphic.

And on the other side of the issue, we have news as well:

In a related development today, supporters of the abortion ban announced
plans for a statewide rally in Sioux Falls.

That rally is set for 3 p.m. on April 2 at the Ramkota Hotel, according to
a statement from the Sioux Falls-based Alpha Center.

A flyer announcing the rally said “thousands” of supporters are expected at
the demonstration.

The Alpha Center, a Sioux Falls nonprofit that opposes abortion, is
involved with communications about the April 2 rally, but a spokesperson for the
center said the rally is the combined work of a number of groups that support
the Legislature’s action on abortion.Those groups are in the process of creating
their own Web site, sdabortionban.com.

The site is registered to the Alpha Center.

Read the whole article here. So, what has this issue done? Turned Republican against Republican. We're not debating issues such as ways to lower taxes and spending. We're not discussing the best way to foster economic development. We're not talking about higher paying jobs. We're not talking being tough on crime, helping parents send their kids to college, or making it easier for families to purchase a home.

We're not talking about Republican issues. We're talking about an extremely divisive issue that cuts across party lines and rips them to shreds. It's a distraction at best. At worst, it can turn parties and elections up on end and shatter traditional party identifications.

You have liberal democrats ripping at their more conservative elected officials, demanding that "the bums be thrown out of office." You have moderate Republicans aligning themselves with Democrats as if that means anything.

The abortion issue transcends party. According to the Wikipedia, it transcends modern civilization by centuries. At one time the AMA was against it. I'm sure there's a different view now. Reportedly, Susan B. Anthony, was pro-life. Think many feminists are now? So is it a Republican or Democratic issue? NO. It's a moral question that has dogged us for centuries.

And here we are deciding to fight it out to the finish while so many other important issues should require our attention.