Monitor: March 21, 2022

By Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri | March 21, 2022, noon

Category: Abortion, Abortion Access, Activism, Attacks on Planned Parenthood, Birth Control, Events in the News, Pap test, Politics, Sexual Health, State Attacks, STI Testing, the pill

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MoLeg Update

The Missouri Legislature was out on spring break last week, which gave us a chance to catch our breath from the onslaught of dangerous and unconstitutional anti-abortion bills advancing in Jefferson City. Here’s what you need to know about several proposals grabbing headlines across the country. 

1. An amendment attached to three separate bills would punish Missourians for helping a patient cross state lines to access an abortion. Politicians want to deputize citizens to enforce this potential law using a bounty-hunter provision similar to the one in Texas, which would allow people to sue each other. This is wildly unconstitutional, but we also know that’s never stopped politicians. Reproductive Health Services in Illinois has already said it won’t back down from these intimidation tactics. Read more about this amendment here.
2. The so-called “ectopic abortion ban” is getting more attention than we think it deserves, especially since Senate leadership has declared this bill “dead on arrival.” Ectopic pregnancies are life-threatening and require immediate attention. Treatment of ectopic pregnancies is similar to miscarriage management. Rep. Brian Seitz (R-Branson), who sponsored this bill, admitted the language doesn’t make sense. So, for now, this is just another scare tactic to shame and stigmatize patients. Read more about it here.
3. A Texas copycat abortion ban is starting to move in the Senate. The Senate Committee on Seniors, Families, Veterans and Military Affairs canceled a hearing on Sen. Rick Brattin’s SB 778 after a crowd of reproductive freedom supporters traveled to Jefferson City from across the state to oppose the ban. If passed, this bill would ban abortion as early as six weeks in pregnancy, before many people know they’re pregnant. It would also deputize citizens to enforce the law by allowing people to sue one another for trying to access abortion in Missouri.

Sen. Brattin, Talk To Your Constituents

Sen. Rick Brattin (R-Harrisonville), sponsor of the Texas copycat abortion ban refused to talk to Missourians after a hearing on his bill was canceled last minute. Pro-abortion supporters took time off work, school, and other responsibilities to travel to Jefferson City and testify against the bill. When they tried to talk to Sen. Brattin, he fled to the nearest elevator while also using physical force against one person. Missourians deserve answers from the same elected officials who are targeting our bodies, lives, and futures. We thank all the pro-abortion supporters for demanding answers and holding our elected officials accountable.

Have You Sent Your Message to POTUS?

Since the Missouri Legislature and Gov. Parson “defunded” Planned Parenthood, providers across 11 health centers in Missouri promised to continue caring for Medicaid patients at no cost while they fight the state in court. We already know this is a violation of federal Medicaid law, which protects every patient’s right to choose their own health care provider. That’s why we’re asking the Biden-Harris administration to take action now. 

Call on the administration to enforce Medicaid law and protect patients who need access to birth control, STI testing and treatment, and cancer screenings.

Act Now

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