JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Lawmakers took the first step to forcing a 72-hour abortion waiting period into law Wednesday night.
The House voted 117-44 to overturn Gov. Jay Nixon's veto of House Bill 1307. The legislation extends the state's current 24-hour waiting period. Missouri becomes only the third state in the nation with a three-day period, if the bill becomes law.
The legislation's ultimate fate remained unclear as the hours grew late. The Senate must also vote to override the veto with a two-thirds majority. Republicans hold a supermajority in the Senate, but Democrats could filibuster the legislation.
At least one Republican senator planned to leave Jefferson City early Thursday morning, putting the Senate Republican supermajority in jeopardy.
Democrats filibustered the bill before it passed in May. The effort ended when Democrats struck a deal with Republicans to allow a vote on the legislation and a Republican-supported early voting proposal in exchange for Republicans killing union-related legislation and a bill requiring voters to have photo identification.
Opponents of the abortion waiting period legislation were concerned the 72-hour waiting period would make obtaining an abortion more difficult. Currently, Missouri has only one clinic that performs abortions, located in St. Louis.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri actively lobbied against the bill, as did other groups. When Nixon vetoed the bill, he cited the lack of an exemption for rape and incest victims.
Abortion-rights supporters Dina van der Zalm, right, and Allyson Junker stand on the steps of the Missouri Capitol Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014, in Jefferson City, Mo.(Photo: Jeff Roberson, AP)
'This glaring omission is wholly insensitive to women who find themselves in horrific circumstances, and demonstrates a callous disregard for their wellbeing. It victimizes these women by prolonging their grief and nightmare,' Nixon said in his veto message.
Bill sponsor Rep. Kevin Elmer, R-Nixa, acknowledged that rape is tragic but said that life begins at conception.
'I believe that we protect life at all costs. That means making sure lives are treated equally,' Elmer said.
Elmer said that all life is equal but then drew protests from Democrats when he said rapists should perhaps be put to death.
Rep. Jay Swearingen, D-Kansas City, shouted at Elmer that he had just said all life should be treated equally.
Rep. Genise Montecillo, D-St. Louis, said lawmakers were indicating they do not trust women. She said the General Assembly should not interfere in women's medical decisions.
'I have no right whatsoever to tell someone what to do when it comes to their medical decisions. We are trying to play God,' Montecillo said.
Elmer, who decided not to run for re-election, has said passage of the legislation would be the pinnacle of his legislative career.
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Posted by Unknown on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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