07:52 PM CDT on Thursday, June 1, 2006

Associated Press

Gov. Kathleen Blanco said Thursday that she'll sign a near-total ban on abortion -- without exceptions for rape or incest victims -- that is nearing final legislative passage.

The Louisiana House and Senate have approved the measure by Sen. Ben Nevers, D-Bogalusa, but it awaits one final approval from the Senate of House changes before it reaches Blanco's desk. It only would allow abortion in cases where the woman's life is in danger or when childbirth would permanently harm her health.

The bill could only go into effect if the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision is overturned.

"I anticipate signing that bill. It's got a safety measure for extreme situations for the life of the mother and some other health issues," Blanco said in an interview with The Associated Press.

She said she believed an exception for rape and incest victims to get an abortion, a proposal rejected by both the House and Senate, would have "been reasonable," but she said she wouldn't reject the bill for that reason.

"The Legislature has spoken," Blanco said.

Under the measure, doctors found guilty of performing abortions would face up to 10 years in prison and fines of $100,000.

The bill is similar to a South Dakota law passed earlier this year that is expected to land before the Supreme Court. A majority of the Supreme Court's nine justices have voted to uphold Roe v. Wade in the past.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)