Mo. Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Steelman, Hulshof Propose New Abortion Restrictions

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 22 May 2008 - 8:00 PST

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The two candidates running for the Missouri Republican gubernatorial nomination called for new restrictions on abortion in the state Monday after the Legislature adjourned last week without passing an antiabortion measure (HB 1831), the AP/Examiner.com reports. Former state Sen. Sarah Steelman (R) and U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R) are campaigning to succeed Gov. Matt Blunt (R), who is not running for re-election. According to the AP/Examiner.com, Steelman urged Blunt to call a special session for the Legislature to reconsider HB 1831, while Hulshof "stopped short" of calling for a special session. The bill was the top priority for antiabortion advocates in the state, AP/Examiner.com reports (Lieb, AP/Examiner.com, 5/19).

The measure would have allowed felony charges to be filed against a physician who performs an abortion when he or she suspects a woman has been coerced. Those who abuse or threaten a pregnant woman to influence her to have an abortion also could have been charged with additional crimes with enhanced penalties. The measure also would have required a woman seeking an abortion to meet with the physician who is performing the procedure 24 hours prior to discuss the procedure and possible medical risks. Under the bill, require doctors would have been required to show a woman a state-produced brochure or video that provides a description of a developing fetus. In addition, the bill would have required abortion providers to give a woman an option of seeing an ultrasound of her fetus, as well as to instruct her about potential health risks and the option of giving her fetus anesthesia (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/20).

Other Proposals

Steelman has said that she supports a state constitutional amendment that would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for medications, such as emergency contraception, to which they have religious or personal objection. Steelman also has proposed a ban on abortions that are sex-selective, or based on deformity or potential disability of the fetus. She did not provide details about enforcing the initiative or propose a penalty for physicians who perform an abortion that violates the ban. In order to carry out such a ban, physicians would need to know the reason a woman is seeking abortion, and Steelman acknowledged that women could lie about the reason. Steelman said she would "work with the medical community to figure out the best way to implement such a proposal."

Hulshof also said Steelman's proposal to ban certain abortions "would be very difficult to enforce," adding, "I'm not sure what's accomplished by this proposal and I certainly don't see how it reduces the number of abortions." Hulshof has proposed a state program to encourage the collection of umbilical cord blood for stem cell research. He added that such research could be supplemented with federal funds if encouraged by the state (AP/Examiner.com, 5/20).

Mo. Congressional Candidates Jacob, Onder To Debate Abortion Policy

In related news, state Sen. Ken Jacob (D) and state Rep. Bob Onder (R), who are running to fill the state's 9th Congressional District seat held by Hulshof, plan to debate abortion policies in two upcoming debates, the AP/Fort Mill Times reports. Jacob and Onder are among 10 people running for the seat. The first debate is scheduled for June 5 at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The second debate, to be held in suburban St. Louis, has not yet been scheduled. Onder is opposed to abortion rights and sponsored HB 1831. Jacob supports abortion rights (AP/Fort Mill Times, 5/19).

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