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There is a movement in Colorado and 5 other states to give blastocysts 14th Amendment "rights": Ray Abortion rights supporters vow to fight fertilized egg proposal DENVER (AP) Abortion rights supporters who gathered at the state Capitol Tuesday to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision vowed to fight a Colorado ballot proposal that would define a fertilized egg as a person. Similar voter-led initiatives and legislative efforts are under way in five other states. Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said her group is focusing on Colorado's measure because it is considered a battleground state in the presidential election and could bring out voters who will also support candidates who are opposed to abortion. ''We celebrate here because your state is a testing ground for what the future holds for the right to choose,'' she said at the rally. Keenan, a former state lawmaker from Montana, urged people to talk to their neighbors and friends about their opposition to the measure. Opponents say the measure could not only lead to abortion being banned in the state, but could also ban birth control, stem cell research and in-vitro fertilization if they led to the destruction of a fertilized egg. The leader of the initiative effort, Kristi Burton, said she welcomed the attention on the proposal. ''I think the issue of protecting all life is an issue Colorado voters need to be focused on,'' Burton said. If the measure passes, Burton said it would be up to the Legislature or the courts to decide whether to change the state law to ban abortions. She said the initiative wouldn't lead to the banning of all forms of birth control, but added that she wasn't qualified to discuss what types of birth control might run afoul of the definition. Burton and her group, Colorado for Equal Rights, must collect 76,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot in November. Those at the rally also criticized a bill introduced in the Legislature requiring that, at least 24 hours before an abortion is performed, doctors must tell the woman that she can request an ultrasound of her fetus. The woman must sign a form saying that she has been informed of the option. ''It's a deceitful attempt to cause delay and discourage women from making a decision,'' said Vicki Cowart, chief executive of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. Sen. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, said the ultrasounds aren't mandatory but he hoped women who decide to have one would change their minds after seeing it and having more time to think about it. ''There's plenty of people who have regretted having an abortion in later years,'' he said. The measure (Senate Bill 95) is set for a hearing Feb. 11. On Wednesday, senators planned to debate a bill allowing more people to qualify for Medicaid funding for contraception. Although it wouldn't pay for abortions, Schultheis said he will oppose it because it would benefit Planned Parenthood, which provides abortions as well as contraception and cancer screenings. (© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. In the interest of timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain occasional typographical errors. ) Rayilyn Brown Board Member AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson's Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn