MO Forced Pregnancy/Forced Birth Abortion Ban Moving Fast
MARCH 3, 2019
HB126, the most severe abortion ban legislation in the country (to date) without any exceptions for rape or incest was pushed through the House this week. Actually, the bill contains FIVE separate abortion bans.
After a 2.5 hour debate this past Wednesday, the bill passed on a final vote of 117-39 and now goes to the Senate.
In a race among other states to be the first to challenge Roe v Wade in the U.S Supreme Court, HB126 bans abortions in Missouri except for “medical emergencies” – yet the bill sponsor, Rep. Nick Schroer (R- O’Fallon) couldn’t explain when questioned what those are or who decides.
PLEASE THANK THESE REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARGUED AGAINST THE BILL IN BOTH HOUSE DEBATES: Minority Leader Crystal Quade, Judy Morgan, Jon Carpenter, Deb Lavender, Doug Beck, Cora Faith Walker, Peter Merideth, Bruce Franks Jr. and (freshmen) Ian Mackey, Keri Ingle, LaDonna Applebaum, Kevin Windham, Doug Clemens, Chris Carter and Rachel Proudie
Three Democrats voted YES : Steve Butz (South St. Louis), Rory Rowland (Independence) and Joe Runions (Grandview). Two Democrats chose not to vote on the bill by leaving the chamber: Mark Ellebracht and Alan Green.
MO Dept of Social Services warned HB126 threatens the loss of $7.7 BILLION in federal funding for Medicaid and includes these amendments:
- Two custodial parent notification required if a minor seeks an abortion —regardless of rape, incest or threat of abuse to the minor
- An abortion ban if fetal pain is detected (not scientifically proven)
- An abortion ban if Down’s syndrome diagnosed
- Requiring providers to have $1 million in malpractice insurance (Missour doesn not require any doctor to have malpractice insurance)
- An abortion ban if Roe v Wade is deemed illegal
REAL LIFE CONSEQUENCES OF HB126:
- If you learn you are pregnant after a heartbeat is detected (around 6 weeks gestation), you are banned from an abortion unless it is deemed a “medical emergency”. No exceptions for rape or incest. You would be forced to remain pregnant and forced to give birth.
- If you are diagnosed with a severe fetal anomaly or the fetus is not viable to survive, you would be forced to remain pregnant and forced to give birth.
- If you have an incomplete miscarriage with a fetal heartbeat, you would be forced to remain pregnant.
- If you are a minor seeking an abortion (prior to a heartbeat detected), one custodial parent would have to notify (and give consent) the other custodial parent, regardless of rape or incest or threats of abuse or danger.
- If Roe v Wade is struck down, abortion in Missouri would be outlawed AND abortion providers would be charged with a felony.
- If you need an abortion, you would need resources to travel to another state, incurring travel expenses and medical costs.
- Maternal mortality would skyrocket and be even worse for women of color and those in poverty. The US is the only industrialized nation with a rising maternal mortality rate, and between 2000 and 2014, there was a 26% increase in the maternal mortality rate. Today black women are already 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy complications.
- Women would still self-abort as they have for decades prior to 1973, many losing their lives.
Every demographic of women rely on abortion for reproductive healthcare including Republican women, religious women, women who already have children, women in every county and zip code, women who desperately wanted their pregnancy, even abortion protestors.W
