Republican lawmakers in Missouri staved off Democrats’ attempts to include rape and incest exceptions to the state’s near-total abortion ban in a vote Wednesday.
During Wednesday’s debate regarding the proposed amendments, Democratic state Sen. Tracy McCreery, who introduced the alterations, asked other legislators to “show an ounce of compassion” for women who are impregnated through rape or incest, adding that “they shouldn’t have to go to another state to get compassionate medical care,” according to audio of the deliberations posted by the state Senate. The Republican-controlled Senate voted down McCreery’s amendments, while discussion over a proposed bill keeping Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid reimbursements was halted without a vote, the Missouri Independent reported.
The state bans abortions except for when there is a medical emergency, defined in the state’s law as “a delay [that] will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.” Additionally, Republican state senators have proposed bills that charge women who get abortions with homicide.
GOP lawmakers, such as state Sen. Bill Eigel, a Republican who is running for governor, staunchly rejected McCreery’s amendments, the outlet reported.
“I can’t imagine that Missouri is going to be a better place tomorrow if we have individuals inflicting abortion on kids because that number is zero today,” Eigel said during the discussion.
Republican state Sen. Rick Brattin echoed Eigel’s sentiment.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“If you want to go after the rapist, let’s give him the death penalty,” Brattin said Wednesday. “Absolutely, let’s do it, but not the innocent person caught in between. That by God’s grace may even be the greatest healing agent you need in which to recover from such an atrocity.”
Last month, a Missouri abortion-rights campaign supported by local Planned Parenthood branches announced its support for an amendment to the state constitution that would allow for women to have access to abortions, with limits in the later terms of pregnancy, the Associated Press reported.
