2012 Legislative Session Recap

The 2012 Missouri State Legislative Session is now in the history books!

Soon after the session began, HHS Director Kathleen Sebelius issued a mandate that all religious institutions would be required to cover abortion services, contraception and sterilization procedures beginning August 1. The issuance of this mandate by the Obama administration caused pro-life legislators to file a variety of legislation to protect Missouri citizens from this unconstitutional, immoral infringement of our religious liberties.

During the final hours of the session, the Missouri Legislature passed SB 749. While this legislation will not overturn the HHS mandate, it sends a strong message to Washington that Missouri will not tolerate this attack against our religious liberty. It also gives Missouri individuals, businesses and institutions standing in the courts to file suit if they oppose enforcement of this mandate and requires businesses to notify participants if any plan covers abortion.

SB 749 passed both chambers by a vote of twenty-eight out of 34 senators and 105 out of 163 state representatives.

The House version of the bill contained additional provisions strengthening conscience protections for pharmacists, medical professionals and researchers. However, this good language was opposed by Senate leadership and was cut out of the bill in conference committee.

Senate Republican leadership made a deal with pro-abortion Democrats that no other pro-life legislation would be passed if SB 749 was allowed to move forward killing many good pro-life bills. Trying to overcome and bypass this deal made in the Senate, pro-life amendments were placed on numerous bills in the last days and hours of this session.

Legislative victories in addition to SB749 include:

• Continued funding of the Alternatives to Abortion program with $1.6 million dollars which includes funding for advertising this important program so that women in crisis pregnancies know that there is help for them to choose life for their babies.

• Requiring the Missouri Technology Corporation to continue to abide by the pro-life protections of 196.1127 language that says that you cannot grant state monies to any business that intends to or will do human cloning, embryonic stem cell research or abortion services.

Many opportunities to save lives through legislation were left lying on the legislative calendar. Among others these include:

• Solid conscience protections for medical professionals and researchers,
• Ban on Tele-Med/Video Conferencing Abortions
• Multiple Versions of State’s Rights Bills Challenging the Constitutionality of Obamacare
• Tracking of Federal Grant Monies in order to be diverted from abortion providers to alternative to abortion agencies
• Protections for pharmacies not to be forced to carry abortion drugs,
• Further extension of PRC tax credits,
• Protection for Pregnancy Resource Center’s agencies and personnel from harassing regulations by local governments because of moral differences.

We thank all legislators who worked so diligently to pass lifesaving legislation during this session.

Missouri House Passes Pro-Life Bill Protecting Women Seeking Abortion

The following statement may be attributed to Pam Fichter, President of Missouri Right to Life:

We applaud the Missouri House of Representatives for passing HB 1274.  This bill offers protection for women seeking abortion by ensuring that complete information about the dangers of RU 486 and similar drugs are given to them and by requiring that they receive a complete physical 24 hours prior to being given the abortion drug.  This protective action will help ensure that the woman does not have a medical condition that will be exacerbated by the use of the RU 486 drug and create a life-threatening situation for her.
The bill would also ban so-called tele-med/video conference abortions in which the contact between the clinic and the woman takes place by tele-conference and the drug is administered locally to the woman without a proper physical examination.

This protective and common sense measure is for the protection of women seeking abortion. Why would anyone be opposed to women being fully informed about what RU 486 does to her body? Why would anyone be opposed to a woman being guaranteed a needed physical exam before an abortion?

Also receiving final approval in the House today was HB 1534, a bill that declares that the Missouri General Assembly finds that the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) exceeds the powers granted to Congress and makes it a misdemeanor for any officer of the state to enact Obamacare. Missouri Right to Life supported HB 1534 because we oppose the federal funding for abortion and rationing of healthcare contained in the PPACA.

MRL Applauds Missouri House and Senate

Missouri Right to Life

Press Release

For Immediate Release:

March 29, 2012

For Information:

573-635-5110

MISSOURI HOUSE AND SENATE PASS SEPARATE PRO-LIFE BILLS ADDRESSING THE RIGHTS OF RELIGIOUS CONSCIENCE AND CONTINUATION OF PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER TAX CREDITS  

 

The Missouri House and Senate today rewarded the efforts of over 3,000 people who attended the Rally for Religious Liberty this past Tuesday by passing separate legislation protecting religious freedom and rights of conscience and extending tax credits for Pregnancy Resource Centers.

The Senate passed SB 749 which provides protections against the HHS mandate that all businesses, including religious institutions and those affiliated with such institutions, provide coverage for services that are counter to the moral teachings of that religion.  By ensuring that no employer, health plan provider, health plan sponsor, health care provider, or any other person or entity shall be compelled to provide coverage for, or be discriminated against or penalized for declining or refusing coverage for, abortion, contraception, or sterilization in a health plan if such items or procedures are contrary to the religious beliefs or moral convictions of such employer, health plan provider, health plan sponsor, health care provider, person, or entity, SB 749 specifically addresses the mandate from the Obama Administration and sends a strong message to Washington.

Also today, the House gave final approval to HCS HB 1541, a broader conscience clause bill that specifies that anyone providing or participating in a medical procedure or research cannot be required to participate or provide services that violates his or her religious, moral, or ethical principles that are adherent to a sincere and meaningful belief in God or in relation to a supreme being.

“The mandate for religious institutions to participate in destroying innocent human life goes against the core religious beliefs of many faiths.  This attack on our religious freedom is in stark opposition to our first amendment right to practice our religion.  Make no mistake, the attack by the Obama Administration has nothing to do with women accessing contraception,” said Pam Fichter, President of Missouri Right to Life, “but is an attack on the religious freedom guaranteed by our Constitution.”

“Missouri Right to Life thanks all the religious leaders and pro-life citizens who united in this cause at the Capitol this past Tuesday and congratulates the members of the Missouri House and Senate who supported this important legislation,” said Fichter.

Video: Archbishop Robert Carlson Addresses Enthusiastic Crowd Rallying for Religious Liberty at MO Capitol

We are slowly uploading video on to our YouTube channel of the speakers from yesterday’s Rally for Religious Liberty. First up is the address from St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson:

Hi res video of Bishop Carlson’s speech can be found at the MRL website. Read text of the Bishop’s official statement here.

U.S. Senate Defeats Blunt Amendment to Protect Religious Freedom

Missouri Right to Life

Press Release

For Immediate Release:
March 1, 2012

For Information:
573-635-5110
314-966-3889

U.S. Senate Defeats Blunt Amendment to Protect Religious Freedom

The following statement may be attributed to Pam Fichter, President of Missouri Right to Life:

Today, March 1, 2012, the U.S. Senate defeated an amendment offered by Sen. Roy Blunt that would have amended the controversial Obama health care law to prevent the imposition of regulatory mandates that violate the religious or moral convictions of those who purchase or provide health insurance. The successful passage of this amendment would have prevented religiously affiliated hospitals and schools from being forced to purchase health insurance plans that cover all government-approved methods of birth control, which includes abortifacient drugs such as Ella and Plan B. The vote to table the Blunt amendment, thus killing it, was passed by a vote of 51 to 48. Senator Claire McCaskill voted to table the amendment.

This is not about birth control, this is about religious liberty. Exactly the same statutory authority that they are using today to force religious hospitals and schools to provide abortifacient drugs and other forms of birth control could be used by the Administration – as early as next year – to mandate that all health plans pay for elective abortion on demand.

This is a sad day in our country when a majority of the U.S. Senate willingly participates in the destruction of the U.S. Constitution and the freedom of religion. One has to wonder where these violations of our freedom by this administration will end.

The focus now shifts to the U.S. House, where the same legislation, introduced as H.R. 1179 by Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-Ne.) currently has 220 cosponsors (more than half of all House members).

Take Action – Protect Religious Freedom!

Senator Blunt (R - MO)

A vital pro-life amendment is likely to be voted on in the U.S. Senate this week. The amendment has been offered by Sen. Roy Blunt. The amendment would amend the Obama health care law to prevent the imposition of regulatory mandates that violate the religious or moral convictions of those who purchase or provide health insurance, such as the recent mandate that virtually all employers – including religious hospitals and schools – must purchase health insurance plans that cover all government-approved methods of birth control, including abortion causing drugs.

This is not just a debate about the birth-control mandate. The same statutory authority could be used by the Administration – as early as next year – to mandate that virtually all health plans pay for elective abortion on demand.

Please call Senator Roy Blunt, 202-224-5721, and tell him you are with Missouri Right to Life and thank him for his actions to rectify this heinous misuse of power by the Obama Administration. Please call Senator Claire McCaskill, 202-224-6154 and ask her to support this amendment to prevent the same heinous misuse of power

JUDGE RULES THAT MOSIRA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Judge Daniel Green in the Cole County Circuit Court ruled Monday evening that the MOSIRA (Missouri Science Innovation and Reinvestment Act) bill (SB 7) is unconstitutional.  Missouri Roundtable, Missouri Right to Life, Citizens of Missouri and Lawyers for Life filed suit against the MOSIRA legislation.  “Our suit was based on the language in SB 7 that clearly states that MOSIRA does not go into effect without the passage on SB 8, known as the Aerotropolis bill.  Since SB 8 did not pass during the extraordinary special session, MOSIRA should not and could not go into effect.  In spite of this language, Governor Nixon signed SB 7 and has taken steps to implement it,” stated Pam Fichter, President of Missouri Right to Life.

In addition to ruling that the MOSIRA bill is unconstitutional, specifically Article III, Section 23 of the Missouri Constitution (Single Subject Rule), he permanently enjoined the State of Missouri from taking any action, including using public funds to implement the MOSIRA bill and he ordered the State of Missouri to rescind all actions taken to implement the MOSIRA bill.

“Missouri Right to Life is very thankful for this decision.  While we know, the nature of the successful lawsuit was one of constitutionality, Missouri Right to Life is committed to standing against the destruction of innocent human lives through human cloning and embryonic stem cell research, stated Pam Fichter.  “Monies in the MOSIRA fund would only be restrained by the language of MOSIRA. The MOSIRA fund, as passed in SB 7, had no pro-life protective language on it to prevent funds from being used for abortion services, human cloning and embryonic stem cell research.  Missouri Right to Life will continue to monitor any attempts to pass MOSIRA again without pro-life protections.”

Lawsuit filed by Right to Life Groups Seeking Judgement that MOSIRA is Void

Missouri Right to Life
Press Release

For Immediate Release:
December 1, 2011

For Information:
573-635-5110
314-966-3889

Missouri Roundtable For Life, Missouri Right To Life, and Missouri Citizens File Petition With Court; Seek Declaration That MOSIRA Bill is Void

Missouri Roundtable for Life and Missouri Right to Life have joined with Missouri citizens today to file a petition with the Cole County Circuit Court seeking a declaration that the MOSIRA bill is void and a legal nullity.

The MOSIRA bill, Senate Bill 7 (SB7), contains a clause that ties its implementation to the passage of Senate Bill 8 (SB8), also known as the “Aerotropolis” bill, by the General Assembly during the most recent Special Session.  Since SB8 failed to pass during the Special Session, the MOSIRA bill cannot go into effect and is therefore void.  Despite the clear language of the bill, Governor Jay Nixon has issued a press release stating he will “initiate steps toward the implementation” of MOSIRA.

“We are asking the Court to uphold the plain language of the MOSIRA bill in the face of the Governor’s refusal to do so,” said Fred N. Sauer, plaintiff and President of Missouri Roundtable for Life.

MOSIRA, The Missouri Science Innovation and Reinvestment Act, was designed to set up a fund, channeled through the state budget, to be administered by the pro-cloning Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC), to provide state money and/or tax incentives for new technology businesses, including those engaged in human life science research.  The Missouri legislature refused to attached protective language to MOSIRA that would have prevented Missouri taxpayer dollars from going to abortion, human cloning, and embryo experimentation. Thus taxpayer dollars distributed via MOSIRA could be used to fund such practices. MOSIRA also places the Life Science Research Trust Fund, established in 2003 as the vehicle to receive and administer the funds received from the Tobacco Settlement Money, under the control of the MTC.

“If the Governor takes steps to implement MOSIRA in violation of the clear language of the bill, he will open the door to the possibility of Missouri taxpayer funding of abortion, human cloning, and experiments that destroy human embryos,” said Pam Fichter, plaintiff and President of Missouri Right to Life.  “No Missouri citizen should be forced to pay for practices that he or she finds morally offensive.”

Not With My Tax Dollars You Don’t!

By Annie Fowler, guest blogger and MRL Western Region chapter member.

All sorts of ill-conceived, unethical wrongdoing can be accomplished under the recently passed SB 7, The Missouri Science Innovation and Reinvestment Act (MOSIRA), due to its inadequate reporting mechanism and funding arrangement history. The potential for taxpayer-blessed dollars to be used for exploitive, unethical human cloning and embryonic stem cell research is very real. MOSIRA contains a reporting provision which, in effect, creates immunity for agencies which participate in ethically objectionable “true cloning”—such as somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Because of the faulty language currently contained in section 38 (d) of the Missouri Constitution, which only limitedly defines cloning as the implantation of a clone into a woman’s uterus, it lacks the necessary enforcement teeth to address other legitimately ethical research concerns. The after-the-fact reporting provision in the SB 7 coupled with only a ten-day window in which legislators may respond stymies any future investigative processes which may be warranted.

Missourians everywhere agree that a clone implantation must be legally prevented. However, Missourians also agree that a human embryo who is virtually genetically identical to an existing or previously existing human being who is “created” under any conditions also must be protected by the full measure of our law. The above-referenced section 38 (d) is commonly known in Missouri as Amendment 2, and it was passed on a fast track powered by misinformation. Doctors, citizens, biologists mounted an effort to slow the process and to require careful evaluation of the scientific evidence, but trickery prevailed. Now it is coming back to haunt us!

The history of the cozy little connection between MOSIRA and the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) goes like this: A fund was created that can be used for human life science research by tech businesses. It is administered by a quasi-government agency which has been a front-runner for pro-cloning efforts. The fund is channeled through our state budget process and supplied with state money—our tax dollars. MOSIRA is the fund, MTC is the controlling administrator, and our elected Missouri legislators are the overseers of the state budget process.

Do you want your Missouri tax dollars contributing to this type of life science research? What Missourians want to support is the use of ethical adult stem cell-based regenerative medicine research with its track record of successful human and humane therapies.

For additional information, visit: http://missourilife.org/legislation/mosira.html

Governor Signs Bill to Fund Unethical Research

Missouri Right to Life
Press Release

For Immediate Release:
October 21, 2011

For Information:
573-635-5110
314-966-3889

Missouri Governor Signs Bill to Fund Human Cloning
And Embryonic Stem Cell Research

The following statement can be attributed to Pam Fichter, President Missouri Right to Life:

Missouri Right to Life is profoundly disappointed in the action of Governor Jay Nixon who today signed into law SB 7, the Missouri Science Innovation and Reinvestment Act (MOSIRA).

MOSIRA sets up a fund, channeled through the state budget, to be administered by the pro-cloning Missouri Technology Corporation, to provide state money and/or tax incentives for new technology businesses, including businesses engaged in human life sciences research.

Missouri Right to Life sought to add language to this legislation that would effectively prevent any MOSIRA funds from being used for unethical research. Sadly, neither the Missouri Legislature nor Governor Nixon valued the concerns of pro-life Missourians who have always opposed public funding for human cloning or embryonic stem cell research.