September 9, 2024

Friday night, Judge Limbaugh of the Cole County District Court issued a decision that would remove Amendment 3, the ballot measure to end Missouri’s cruel, near-total abortion ban from the November ballot. Sunday night, the ballot measure campaign, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom filed an emergency appeal to challenge this ruling and remain confident that Amendment 3 will appear on Missourians' ballots this November. Tomorrow, the Missouri Supreme Court will hear oral arguments from both sides- the same day ballots are due to be printed.

“After the GOP-appointed Supreme Court justices cast the deciding votes to overturn Roe, Missouri was the first state to effectively make every abortion illegal, due to a Republican trigger law. Since that day in June 2022, we have heard countless horrific stories of pregnant women across the country denied lifesaving care and doctors threatened with prosecution for doing their jobs. For years, Missourians have suffered the consequences of extreme government overreach.” State Representative Stephanie Hein said. 

“Missourians across the political spectrum -Democratic, Independent, and Republican- believe our neighbors should have the fundamental right to make our own, personal medical decisions without political interference. This state legislative session, Missouri Republicans voted against allowing abortion exceptions in cases of rape or incest and against protecting contraceptives and IVF services. These are deeply private issues around decisions that should be made amongst family and medical professionals, not politicians in Jefferson City. We are confident the court will side with Missouri voters and will continue forward.” 

Background: 

State Representative Stephanie Hein was born in southwest Missouri and raised in a family of public educators, and strongly believes in the saying “Show me your budget, and I’ll show you your values.” Hein governs with the understanding that our state’s budget serves as a moral contract with our citizens. Every year, it is up to the state government to allocate the tax dollars you pay to maintain and improve our quality of living.

(WATCH) NBC News: Record-Breaking Filibuster By Missouri Lawmakers

Kansas City Star: Missouri Senate Democrats Force Negotiations On Plan To Weaken Direct Democracy

Missouri Independent: 50-Hour Filibuster Forces More Negotiations On GOP-Backed Initiative Petition Changes

(LISTEN) The Down Ballot: Missouri Dems Filibuster GOP Into Submission
Springfield News-Leader:

“Missouri was the first state to trigger a near-total abortion ban in 2022 when Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Abortions are only allowed in extreme cases to save the life of the mother, but doctors are still hesitant to perform abortions due to the strict legal liability associated with doing so in the state.” 

“Following the launch of the campaign to restore abortion rights with the least restrictions, members of the Freedom Caucus engaged in a filibuster to force Senate leaders to bring the initiative petition legislation to a floor debate, citing the abortion measure as a cause for immediate action.”

Kansas City Star:

“Missouri Republicans have for years attacked the state’s initiative petition process, which has been utilized by voters of both parties to bypass the General Assembly and put measures to a statewide vote. The criticism comes as voters have in recent years passed several progressive policies, including marijuana legalization and Medicaid expansion. Republicans argue that the current process has allowed outside interest groups to influence elections. But this year, as a coalition of abortion rights groups embark on a campaign to put abortion rights on the ballot through an initiative petition, Republicans have doubled down on the effort.” 

Missouri Independent: Democrat Filibuster Forces Removal Of ‘Ballot Candy’ From Senate Initiative Petition Bill

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Media Contact: 

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org