Mo. Congressional Candidates Jacob, Onder Debate State Restrictions On Abortion

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 10 Jun 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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Two of the nine candidates running to replace Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo.) in Congress -- Democrat Ken Jacob and Republican state Rep. Bob Onder -- discussed abortion rights and other topics during a debate Thursday at the University of Missouri-Columbia, the AP/Fox 2 News reports. Hulshof is leaving the Missouri 9th Congressional District seat to run for governor.

Jacob -- who served in the state Legislature for 22 years and currently is an attorney in the state auditor's office -- said that a measure (HB 1831) sponsored by Onder that included several restrictions on abortion was legally flawed and sexist (Zagier, AP/Fox 2 News, 6/5).

The bill, which passed the state House but was never voted on in the Senate, would have allowed felony charges to be filed against physicians who perform abortions when they suspect a woman has been coerced. The measure also 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. Women seeking an abortion would have been required to meet with the physician who is performing the procedure 24 hours prior to discuss the procedure and possible medical risks (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/20).

Jacobs said Onder's bill "appears to suggest that women are weak, confused, they can be coerced and they can't be responsible for their choices." In an attempt to show that the issue is not hypothetical, Onder cited a Washington, D.C., case in which three paramedics sued the city after being threatened with firing if they became pregnant and statements from seven female Clemson University students who obtained abortions for fear they would lose their athletic scholarships. "In an ideal world, it wouldn't be necessary to have a law against rape or murder or assault," Onder said.

Jacobs is running in the Democratic primary against Marion County Commissioner Lyndon Bode, former state House Speaker Steve Gaw and state Rep. Judy Baker. Bode released a statement Thursday noting that he is the only Democrat running who favors more abortion restrictions. Onder is running in the Republican primary against state Rep. Danie Moore, former state tourism director Blaine Luetkemeyer, Brock Olivo and Dan Bishir (AP/Fox 2 News, 6/5).

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