Missouri House debate could begin this week on an attempt to make many abortions illegal again.
Rep. Brian Seitz, R-Branson, wants to ask voters to restrict voter-approved abortion rights, with limited exceptions for medical emergencies, fetal abnormalities, and cases of rape or incest.
The exceptions would apply to rape and incest survivors who are within 12 weeks of pregnancy, but only if they reported the crime to law enforcement.
“Missourians deserve to be presented with better options at the ballot box, options that are more in line with their values and that aren’t marketed to them in a deceptive manner,” said Seitz.
During a committee hearing, House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, D-Kansas City, pushed back on Seitz suggesting that voters did not know what they were voting for.
“I don’t think that the voters knew that what they were voting for was abortion on demand at nine months,” said Seitz.
“That is not at all what is in our Constitution. You are absolutely misrepresenting what has been voted on by the voters. And if you think that there are abortions on demand at nine months, shame on you for thinking so little of women,” said Aune.
Randolph County resident Susan Hudson was fired up about Seitz’s proposal.
“This wasn’t just big city voters that came out and voted yes. Rural Missourians voted yes on (Amendment) 3 as well. And we are not dumb. We are able to read the language of the bill and understand what it means,” said Hudson.
Last November, nearly 52% of Missouri voters restored abortion rights up to the point in pregnancy that a fetus is likely to survive outside of the uterus. It gives state lawmakers some say in regulating abortion after fetal survivability, which is around six months.
Rep. Raychel Proudie, D-Ferguson, took issue with Seitz saying he would not support a bill that would require men to have vasectomies.
“You said that you would be against it because you believe that that’s a private choice between that man,” said Proudie.
“Whether or not a man has that procedure done, yeah,” said Seitz.
“Right,” said Proudie.
“Right,” said Seitz.
“So my question is, do you not see the hypocrisy here,” asked Proudie.
“No,” said Seitz.
“It’s hypocritical for men to have such autonomy of their bodies and women not have that,” said Proudie.
The measure would also ask voters to ban gender transitions among children – sparking debate among Democrats who think the question breaks a Constitutional rule requiring a single subject.
For more information about House Joint Resolution 73, click here.
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