Abortion Legislation Introduced as Special Session Begins

The anti-abortion bills that ran afoul of infighting among pro-life groups last Spring have been introduced in the special legislative session and are expected to be passed. Senator John Loudon of Ballwin is handling the bill, which combines legislation from earlier this year. It bans anyone with any interest in abortion providers from encouraging a minor to ask a judge to make her an exception to state anti-abortion laws; lets parents sue anyone who helps a minor child get an abortion; and requires doctors doing abortions to have clinical privileges at a hospital within 30 miles.