South Dakota governor defends state’s abortion ‘trigger’ ban when asked if 10-year-old should be forced to give birth

When asked by CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union” whether children similar to a 10-year-old child abuse victim who traveled from Ohio to Indiana to receive an abortion should be forced to give birth, Noem said, “This tragedy is horrific. I can’t even imagine. I have never had anybody in my family or myself gone through anything like this. … But, in South Dakota, the law today is that the abortions are illegal, except to save the life of the mother.”

Noem told Bash she would not be in favor of amending the current law — a so-called trigger law that took effect following the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade — to add an exception for similar situations, saying, “I don’t believe a tragic situation should be perpetuated by another tragedy.”

“That’s what’s interesting about the time we live in right now,” Noem added. “Every state will have different laws on the books. The decisions will be made by the legislators that are closest to the people. That’s appropriate. It’s the way our Constitution intended.”

Wyoming, North Dakota, Idaho, and Tennessee are awaiting state action, and legal fights over abortion restrictions are underway in more than a dozen states.

Noem was also asked Sunday about supporting paid family leave or greater financial access to child care.

“That’s a discussion we’re going to have. I think it’s important that we back up exactly what I have been saying since I’m governor, that we want stronger families,” she told Bash. “Many times, it’s the financial cost, the medical cost and the leave policy that many people have a tough time supporting. But I think, in South Dakota, that the time is right.”

Noem, however, said she does not back expanding Medicaid, which is on the state’s ballot in November. The measure would cover low-income women without health insurance in South Dakota during and after pregnancy.