Missouri State Sen. Bill Eigel plans to file a bill in the next legislative session for a constitutional amendment to deny state money to abortion providers.
“I’m going to propose a constitutional amendment that will prohibit any further money from going to Planned Parenthood or any other institution that supports the abortion industry.”
The amendment would restrict the use of state money, specifically from Medicaid, to fund Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinics.
Eigel announced his intention to file the amendment following a ruling by the Missouri Supreme Court that found state laws prohibiting the use of Medicaid payments to abortion providers to be unconstitutional. The ruling covered a suit filed two years ago by Planned Parenthood challenging a change to the state’s budget that excluded abortion clinics from Medicaid funding. The court found the constitution does not allow for bills to cover more than one subject, and the restrictions would violate that law.
“I condemn the decision of the Missouri Supreme Court; it causes me to seriously question what constitution these justices are looking at,” Eigel said. “I was very disappointed in the Missouri Supreme Court’s decision to try to force the legislature to send public dollars to Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is one of the most aggressive and widespread supporters of the abortion industry in Missouri, and the idea that public money would be going to such an institution is outrageous in my mind and the minds of a lot of my constituents.”
If Eigel’s amendment passes the General Assembly next year, it then will be an item on the statewide ballot. “We should have done this a while ago,” he said. “This decision has indicated that the time to act is now.”
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
