14th Edition of "Who Decides?" Finds "Bleak Situation" for Pro-Abortionists.

The 14th annual edition of NARAL's "Who Decides?" rarely an upbeat report even in the "best" of times, says that "the nation's overall grade for women's reproductive rights dropped to a D-" in 2004.

As it has since 1992, the report assesses a grade on women's "reproductive rights" for each state and the District of Columbia, and offers an overall assessment. In addition to summarizing state laws, this year the report "includes new sections citing key findings and political trends."

Released January 13, the report laments, "In the last 4 years, as George Bush's anti-choice presidency has emboldened anti-choice activists around the country, the nation's grade has steadily declined from a C- to a deplorable D-." According to Nancy Keenan, the organization's president, "State legislators are continuing to chip away at women's freedom - - and they are prepared to go much further if George Bush succeeds in his goal of overturning Roe v. Wade."

Predictably, most media attention fastened on the [regrettably] inaccurate prediction that, "As many as 19 states will quickly ban abortion as soon as Roe is overturned. As many as 19 more could follow closely behind." Mary Balch, NRLC's director of state legislation, gave NRL News a much more balanced - - and accurate - - analysis.

"NRLC, no more than NARAL, can look into a crystal ball and predict with accuracy what will happen once Roe v. Wade falls," she said. Generally speaking, Balch said, there are two statements that can be made with assurance.

"You have to remember than even the most commonsensical laws have run head-on into the fortress the Court has built to surround the essentially unlimited 'right' to abortion," she explained. "When a more sensible Supreme Court finally dispatches with Roe, this will be a 'necessary but not sufficient' step."

Asked to explain, Balch said that once Roe falls, states would be free to enact their own abortion statutes. But, she added, in and of itself, overturning Roe would not stop any abortions.