A move in the Missouri House to send Congress a message about abortion has stalled.
Representative Bob Dixon (R-Springfield) couldn’t get HR294 through House debate, which stalled for a number of reasons, including the use of an incendiary phrase during the debate. Dixon wants the state legislature to send a message to Congress: that it opposes the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA).
Yet Rep. Chris Kelly (D-Columbia) challenged Dixon during floor debate, questioning the need for the resolution. Kelly stated that FOCA isn’t now before Congress and dismissed the resolution as legally meaningless.
Dixon defended his resolution. He argued that Missouri needs to send Congress a message, telling the federal government in Washington not to infringe on the sovereignty of Missouri to regulate abortions. Dixon says FOCA would override many abortion restrictions the state legislature has approved the past few sessions.
Debate on the resolution bogged down, not the least of which was the controversy started by Rep. Bryan Stevenson (R-Webb City) when he stated that FOCA "is the greatest power grab by the federal government since the War of Northern Aggression."
Stevenson later took to the House floor to apologize for the remark.
Dixon’s resolution has been shelved, at least for the time being.
Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)
