Missouri Governor Vetoes 'Extreme And Disrespectful' Anti-Abortion Bill
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) vetoed a bill on Wednesday that would have tripled the state's mandatory waiting period before an abortion to 72 hours, even in cases of rape and incest.
House Bill 1307 would have required women to wait three days after an initial consultation before being able to have the procedure. The bill also would have required doctors to present the women with materials about fetal pain and an image and audio of the heartbeat from her ultrasound.
The state's one abortion clinic is in St. Louis, so women in remote areas would have had to travel up to 300 miles twice in three days, or arrange lodging in the city during the waiting period, in order to meet the new requirements.
“This extreme and disrespectful measure would unnecessarily prolong the suffering of rape and incest victims and jeopardize the health and well-being of women,” Nixon said in a statement. “By failing to include an exception for rape and incest, House Bill 1307 demonstrates a callous disregard for women who find themselves in horrific circumstances and would make Missouri one of just two states in the nation to take such an extreme step. Lengthening the already extensive waiting period serves no demonstrable purpose other than to create emotional and financial hardships for women who have undoubtedly already spent considerable time wrestling with perhaps the most difficult decision they may ever have to make.”
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/02/missouri-governor-jay-nixon_n_5552324.html
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