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Pro-life groups confident in override

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Nixon vetoed HB1307 last week, which sought to increase the mandatory wait time for abortion procedures from 24 to 72 hours. He called the bill “a disrespectful measure that would unnecessarily prolong the suffering of rape and incest victims and jeopardize the health and well-being of women” in his veto letter.

Despite his concerns, pro-life groups stand by the bill and are confident that the veto will be overridden because of the quality of the legislation.

Missouri Right to Life’s president, Pam Ficter, said that the bill protects women from allowing abortion clinics to make a profit from procedures, following up with general concerns regarding the safety of abortion.

“Abortion is a life-changing procedure,” Ficter said in a press release. “It ends the life of an unborn baby; a decision that can never be undone. The procedure can also be harmful to the mother. In making this decision, women need time to review all the medical information and the alternatives available. This bill provides that. We urge all pro-life legislators of both political parties to vote to override the Governor’s veto of HB 1307.”

RTL’s executive director is confident in the General Assembly’s ability to override the veto.

Patty Skain
Patty Skain

“There are 108 Republicans that support the bill and at least 4-6 that should vote to override,” Executive Director Patti Skain said. “Of course, in the Senate, there are 23 Republicans.”

Skain said that the bill is “essentially” a good bill because abortions can be so devastating.

“It is very unfortunate when a child dies,” she told The Missouri Times. “We do not believe that 3 days is too burdensome to consider such a serious decision.”

Kerry Messer, president of the Missouri Family Network, and representative for the Missouri Baptist Convention and Americans United for Life echoed Missouri Right to Life’s confidence in an override.

“The votes are there,” he said. “The issue is such that the votes are there in both the House and Senate. I do believe that the pro-life leaders in both the House and Senate are interested in that bill becoming law. This is the one of the few issues that partisan politics to take a second seat to, which is a good thing.”

Messer said that the governor’s concerns with the bill will not stop the override and that the bill will help reduce the number of regrets in the future.

“Of all the elective medical procedures that people have done, there is no procedure that comes close to those people who have had abortions,” Messer told The Missouri Times. “The percentage is overwhelming of people who wish they had not made that decision. That’s why it is important for there to be a longer reflection period so that people can take a little more serious time once they have started to process the consequences of their decision to soak in a little deeper before they follow through. Our goal is to save thousands of people a lifetime of regret. If the governor wants to throw that to the wind, that’s his choice – he is the governor. We have to try to stand up for those people who wish they had never made that decision.”

Veto session will begin September 10.