N.D. House votes to outlaw abortion

BISMARCK, N.D., Feb. 18 (UPI) -- North Dakota's House of Representatives has passed a bill effectively outlawing abortion in the state.

The House-approved legislation declares that a fertilized egg has all the rights of any person, KXMC-TV of Minot, N.D., reported Wednesday.

Rep. Dan Ruby, R-Minot, has unsuccessfully sponsored other bills banning abortion in previous legislative sessions.

He said his proposal this year is compatible with the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion.

"This is the exact language that's required by Roe vs. Wade," he said. "It stipulated that before a challenge can be made, we have to identify when life begins, and that's what this does."

Rep. Kari Conrad, D-Minot, said she worries the bill will land North Dakota in court.

"People who presented this bill, were very clear that they intended to challenge Roe versus Wade. So they intend to put the state of North Dakota into court defending Roe vs. Wade," she was quoted as saying.

The proposal must clear the state Senate and be signed by Republican Gov. John Hoeven before becoming law.