California is a pro-choice state. We’ve proven that with the defeat of parental notification measures that have passed easily in less progressive states. Three times.

But that doesn’t mean that the anti-choice crusaders will give it a rest.  They’ve filed an initiative to redefine the definition of a person to include a fetus, and are gearing up to get the signatures:

Today, Mason will join activists in Sacramento to announce a signature-gathering campaign for an initiative to amend California’s Constitution and define a person as a human starting at conception.

Two recently minted stars of the antiabortion movement are behind the measure: the Rev. Walter Hoye, who went to jail last year after violating an Oakland law designed to keep protesters away from patients entering abortion clinics, and Lila Rose, a UCLA student who has made undercover videos purporting to show legal violations at Planned Parenthood.

The American Life League, a well-funded conservative Catholic group, is advising Hoye and Rose on the initiative, which would require about 690,000 valid signatures to get on the ballot. The group is also helping with initiative campaigns in Colorado, Florida, Missouri and Montana. (LA Times 9/28/09)

If you’ll remember way back to 2005, when Prop 73 was on the ballot, a personhood definition was also included in that.  The anti-choice crusaders dropped that portion for the previous two measures.  Every few years, we get these things.  And despite these measures losing, the donors behind these measures, win for losing.  Another measure to attack the bank accounts of pro-choice donors, and the nearly limitless accounts of some of the anti-choice zealots just keep plugging away.

Unfortunately, given the rules we play with, we have to be vigilant every time on these things. No matter how many times they appear on the ballot, we have to continue to fight.

UPDATE: I’ve posted the statement from Planned Parenthood of CA over the flip.

Initiative dangerous to women’s health

Statement by Kathy Kneer, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, in response to the filing today of a so-called “personhood” initiative:

“The initiative filed today is dangerous to women’s health. For the fourth time in five years, those opposed to a woman’s right to privacy are at it again, but this one goes too far.  There are numerous dangerous consequences that will result from this proposal: it would cause women who have miscarriages to be investigated; it will outlaw certain types of birth control; it could stop stem cell research; and because, incredibly, the proponents make no exception for an abortion even in the case of rape, incest or if the life and health of the woman is at risk – women in California may die.

Planned Parenthood, along with doctors, nurses, and counselors are pledged to fight this proposal – as we have done the last three. We are confident, that California’s voters, once they realize the dangers of this plan will once again vote no.”