Reproductive issues top-of-mind in Missouri as elections approach
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Abortion and reproductive issues have become a battleground in the 2024 elections, including in Missouri.
Around 100 people gathered Tuesday at the Missouri Capitol to show their opposition to abortion. Although abortion has been effectively banned in Missouri since Roe v. Wade was overturned, Missouri Right to Life is still working to tighten that abortion ban even further.
This rally comes just days after reproductive rights played a pinnacle role in President Joe Biden's State of the Union speech. Biden announced he "will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again.”
"Clearly, those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women. But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and we won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again in 2024," Biden said.
Many did note Biden's choice not to use the word "abortion," which was written in the text of his planned speech, instead opting for phrases like "reproductive freedom."
Susan Klein, executive director of Missouri Right to Life, said she believes abortion will be an issue at the forefront of voters' minds this year. However, she said Biden got it wrong in his State of the Union.
"I think his position is extreme," Klein said. "The laws in Missouri have protected women. They have not harmed women. They've worked to save babies and also give women all the help they need to choose life for their unborn baby."
Missouri has one of the nation's strictest bans, without exceptions for the mother's health, rape or incest.
Abortion opponents also want lawmakers to make it more difficult to amend the Missouri Constitution. An initiative petition reform bill passed out of the Missouri Senate will be heard in the Missouri House of Representatives election committee Tuesday afternoon.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Jefferson County), only passed the Senate after weeks of filibusters. Republicans have prioritized initiative petition reform for the past few years but failed to get a bill across the finish line each time.
Abortion foes are worried that an initiative petition gathering signatures on reproductive rights would pass and allow abortions in Missouri once more if the process is not changed.
"We also are working on initiative petition reform to make sure that everybody has a voice and a vote when our Constitution gets changed," Klein said.
Voters' rights groups gathered at the Capitol earlier this year to ask lawmakers to ignore these pleas and throw out the initiative petition reform bills.
Denise Lieberman, with the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, previously told ABC 17 News the efforts to make it more difficult to change the Missouri Constitution are meant to silence voters.
"The citizen initiative process gives all Missourians a voice on issues that they care about, even if those issues are not top priorities of their legislators," Lieberman said.
The non-partisan organization March of Dimes gave Missouri a D- for maternal and infant health. This is due to the 11.3% of babies in Missouri born premature, this is about 1% higher than the national average according to March of Dimes.
Erin Coppenbarger said lawmakers need to make the quality of life better for mothers in Missouri to aolve this issue.
"The issues that we are focused on address socio-economic factors such as tax exemptions on necessities for families like diapers, food, prenatal vitamins, as well as child care tax credits and telehealth bills," Coppenbarger said.
