Anti-Abortion Bills Modified to Mollify Anti-Life Groups

MAY 4, 2005, JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Before allowing further debate on two anti-abortion bills, Governor Blunt, President Pro Tem Senator Mike Gibbons, and Speaker of the House Rod Jetton are requiring changes be made to the bills in order to allay concerns expressed by the human cloning industry.

Before allowing SB 2, which passed the Senate by a 26-6 vote, to be debated on the House floor, SB2 is being stripped down to remove the following provisions from the Senate passed bill:

• Making abortion providers subject to licensure as an “ambulatory surgical center” if the abortion provider performs five or more first-trimester abortions in a month, or performs any second or third-trimester abortions. This would have made abortion providers subject to state inspection by the Department of Health and Senior Services.

• Requiring physicians who perform abortions to have clinical privileges at a hospital within thirty miles of where the abortion is performed. A physician who performed an abortion without such clinical privileges in Missouri would be committing a crime.

• Prohibiting state funds from being used to directly or indirectly subsidize abortion providers like Planned Parenthood.

• State Income Tax credits for those who donate to agencies such as Birthright, which provide counseling and alternatives to abortion services.

• Allowing the state to sell “Respect Life” license plates. Proceeds from the sales of such plates would have been expended for alternatives to abortion programs and services.

• Establishing a state Respect Life Commission to oversee the program that would have made suggestions to state policy makers to ensure that Missouri protects all human life.

• Prohibiting abortion providers from furnishing sex education services and materials to public schools.

In order for HB 100, which passed the House by a vote of 122-31, to be debated on the Senate floor, HB 100 is being stripped of the following language:

• The term "next friend" shall not include any entity or person in an individual or representative capacity that has a financial interest or potential gain from the proposed abortion, or any employee of or volunteer for such entity or person.

• The bill prohibits a person from intentionally causing, aiding, or assisting a minor to obtain an abortion without consent from a parent or a judge. Parents could sue those who violate the law, including if the offender took their daughter out of state.

Deacon Larry Weber, Executive Director and General Counsel, of the Missouri Catholic Conference said, “It is very disturbing to have a governor and legislative leadership who claim to be pro-life and not be able to get this two anti-abortion bills passed.” Weber also said, “Pro-life Missourians need to call the governor and legislature and tell them to take up and pass SB 2 and HB 100 immediately.”

“These bills offer real alternatives to abortion, by providing support for pro-life agencies that help pregnant women in need," said Samuel Lee of Campaign Life Missouri.  "Failure to enact these measures into law means that unborn babies and their mothers have been victimized by petty politics."

“We are very disappointed that key Republican leaders would throw away so many important pro-life initiatives because the biotech industry fears that protecting human lives would impinge on its human cloning plans,” said Pam Fichter, President of Missouri Right to Life.

If you would like to contact your legislator regarding SB 2 and HB 100 you may use the following links:

• If you don’t know who your Senator or Representative is click here.

• For a list of senators and their email addresses click here.

• For a list of representatives and their email addresses click here.