Abortion bill passes in Missouri Senate, heads to governor’s desk

Missouri senators voted 22-9 Tuesday to pass Senate Bill 5, which creates stricter rules for abortion procedures and clinics. It also gives the attorney general power to intervene in local abortion law cases.

The original bill passed out of the Senate in June after multiple meetings and committee hearings. The bill was sent to the House, where representations added more restrictions.

Supporters of the House version hope the bill will help in shutting down Planned Parenthood’s St. Louis location, the only abortion clinic left in the state.

Democratic Senator Jason Holsman asked senators to consider sending the bill back for conference, saying the House had violated their trust and colluded with Governor Eric Greitens to amend the bill into something different than what the Senate originally signed off on.

Opponents of a conference said there was no reason to send it back for more discussions because most senators agree with the House’s version and sending it back would only delay its passage.

By a vote of 12-19, Holsman’s motion to go back to conference failed. When it became clear that Democrats planned to filibuster a vote on the bill, senate leaders used a rare procedural maneuver called “previous question” to cut off debate and force a vote.

In the end, eight Democrats and one Republican opposed the bill, while 22 Republicans voted to pass it.

Governor Greitens said in a statement that “today is a great victory for pregnancy care centers that help women and children all over the state. I’m proud that many of Missouri’s lawmakers stood strong to protect the lives of the innocent unborn and women’s health.”

Planned Parenthood director of policy and organizing, M’Evie Mead, said Tuesday that Missouri abortion laws are already some of the most restrictive in the nation.

“Federal courts have blocked some of those medically unnecessary restrictions. This political theater is an expensive and ideological ploy to end abortion access in the state,” she said. “The notion that this session has any benefit for patients’ health and safety is nonsense, and Missourians are smart enough to know that.”