Contact: M’Evie Mead, 314-531-7526 ext. 348
#ReproRightsLobbyDay Highlights
More than 100 supporters traveled from across the state to Jefferson City last Wednesday for Planned Parenthood’s first #ReproRightsLobbyDay of the year! More than three dozen St. Louis high school students from Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri’s Teen Advocates for Sexual Health (TASH) program took the lead on explaining the importance of sex education to our elected officials. We kicked off the day by delivering more than 10,000 petitions to Gov. Eric Greitens in support of Planned Parenthood and Medicaid expansion. Then small groups of citizen lobbyists met with 27 legislators on both sides of the aisle to talk about the need for comprehensive, medically accurate, inclusive sex education, and the importance of opposing any cuts to Medicaid that would deprive Missourians of access to health care.
If you weren’t able to make our first lobby day, we have three more: Tuesday, February 21; Tuesday, April 25; and Thursday, May 4. RSVP for our February lobby day today!
- Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri: #ReproRightsLobbyDay Photos
- RSVP for February 21 #ReproRightsLobbyDay:
MoLeg Weekly Wrap-Up
This week’s legislative action was focused in the Senate Seniors, Families, and Children Committee, which held a hearing on SB 230. Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri, NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri, and the ACLU of Missouri testified against this measure that would force abortion providers to offer Missouri’s “informed consent” booklet to people who ask about abortion outside of Missouri. This government-issued material includes propaganda and irrelevant and inaccurate medical information. We all want people to have the support they need when considering their pregnancy options; medically inaccurate information is unacceptable.
Following the hearing, committee members voted 5-2 along party lines to pass four anti-sexual and -reproductive health bills that were heard the week before:
- SB 41, which bars cities and counties from regulating so-called “pregnancy resource centers” (PRCs) that are on record for providing false and misleading information to pregnant people. PRCs wouldn’t have to comply with regulations protecting client confidentiality or prohibiting false advertising;
- SB 67, which would prohibit families from donating fetal tissue after an abortion and impose new, medically unnecessary targeted regulation of abortion providers (TRAP) laws;
- SB 96, an unconstitutional abortion ban that forces doctors to interrogate pregnant people about their reasons for seeking abortion; and
- SB 196, which politicizes the enforcement of Missouri’s abortion laws.
The committee discussed but did not take a vote on SB 28, which would eviscerate Medicaid and put thousands of Missourians at risk of losing access to health care.
This week, both House and Senate committees will hear bills HB 655 and SB 15 to extend tax credits to PRCs. Allowing taxpayer dollars to support organizations that are on record for misleading women is unacceptable.
- The Pitch: Pregnant and scared? Then stay out of Missouri, which hands welfare money to dubious anti-abortion centers
- Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri: 2017 Bill Summary
- Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri: 2017 Bill Fact Sheets
#IStandWithPP
Planned Parenthood is fighting like hell to protect our patients and their access to health care. We know that the data is on our side, but that’s not enough. One of the most effective ways to fight back is to share personal stories and explain to people why you stand with Planned Parenthood. It doesn’t have to be long, fancy or dramatic — it just has to be you. Take a few moments now to share your story!
- Speak Out! Share your perspective as a Planned Parenthood supporter and/or patient:
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