最新杏吧原创

Although Planned Parenthood and other providers are already prohibited from providing abortions in Missouri in nearly all circumstances, the latest attempt is aimed at evading legal roadblocks that have stopped previous failed efforts to cut off funding for the clinics.

鈥淭his is not new policy in Missouri. This is something the Legislature has been working on since 2016,鈥� said Rep. Cody Smith, R-Carthage, who sponsored the measure.

Smith is chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee and is running for state treasurer in the August Republican primary. Abortion access is expected to play a significant role in the upcoming election after it was largely banned in the state in 2022.

The effort is seen as a workaround after the Republican-controlled Senate was unable to advance a similar proposal earlier this year because of Democratic resistance.

Attempts in previous years were ruled unconstitutional by the Missouri Supreme Court because language making the change was added to the state budget and not in a standalone bill.

Democrats in the House raised concerns about the prospects of the latest attempt.

Rep. Barbara Phifer, D-Kirkwood, said she doubts the federal government will allow the maneuver to go unchecked.

鈥淲omen鈥檚 health care is very critical in Missouri,鈥� said Phifer, listing high infant and maternal mortality rates and sexually transmitted diseases as chief concerns.

Rep. Keri Ingle, D-Kansas City, said voters in both parties are concerned about reproductive rights in the wake of abortion being made illegal via a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision.

鈥淎re we in two different worlds?鈥� Ingle said.

鈥淭he real life impact is more people will die,鈥� said Rep. Peter Merideth, D-最新杏吧原创. 鈥淒on鈥檛 pretend this is a pro-life bill.鈥�

Rep. Doug Richey, R-Excelsior Springs, said the move doesn鈥檛 mean Planned Parenthood would have to close. Rather, they just wouldn鈥檛 receive taxpayer dollars to operate.

鈥淭his is a great policy move. It makes sense,鈥� Richey said.

The legislation is Hous