The biggest story in Missouri politics this week came down from the governor’s office Wednesday when Gov. Eric Greitens announced he would call a special session, his second such call in less than a month.
This time, the special session will revolve around creating new abortion regulations and blocking a St. Louis ordinance that prevents employment and renting discrimination against women who are pregnant, have had abortions, or for any other reproductive reason.
“Our faith community and volunteers do incredible work to support people in need. And there’s few finer examples than the work pregnancy care centers do across our state,” Greitens said in a video message on his social media pages. “In the city of St. Louis, some of these pregnancy care centers are under attack. There’s a new city law making St. Louis an abortion sanctuary city — where pregnancy care centers can’t work the way they’re supposed to. Politicians are trying to make it illegal, for example, for pro-life organizations to say that they just want to hire pro-life Missourians.”
Unlike his first special session which focused on the bipartisan goal of giving the Public Service Commission authority to this special session will likely end up much more divisive between the Republican caucus, who present more abortion regulations each year to protect the sanctity of life, in their view, and the Democrats, who support abortion access.
Greitens again took on the role of campaigner Friday to promote the special session with rallies in Springfield and Joplin, with a stop planned in St. Charles Friday evening. Greitens was joined by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, one of the most prominent social conservatives in the nation.
Roughly 100 people attended each of the Springfield and Joplin events. Greitens also managed to cause some controversy when he reportedly asked those in attendance at the Springfield event to pray for “career politicians in the Senate” according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Kurt Erickson. Sen. Ryan Silvey, who has criticized Greitens in the past for his attacks on the legislative branch, notably took exception.
For today’s lesson in How to Win Friends & Influence People… https://t.co/zvdnYLuqHo
— Ryan Silvey (@RyanSilvey) June 9, 2017
@EricGreitens the more this sinks in, the more it bothers me. God is neither R nor D & prayer is not a political stunt. #moleg pic.twitter.com/G6KeiwTGZL
— Ryan Silvey (@RyanSilvey) June 9, 2017
Aside from the special session, Greitens also took time Tuesday, June 6, to remember the soldiers who sacrificed their lives on the beaches of Normandy, France during World War II.
Today is the 73rd anniversary of D-Day. Let us remember and follow the example of the courageous citizens who stormed the beaches that day. pic.twitter.com/bbygbBttq4
— Eric Greitens (@EricGreitens) June 6, 2017
