Missouri Legislature Completes 2020 Legislative Session

After Shortened Session, because of Corona Virus

The Missouri House and Senate returned to Jefferson City to complete their constitutional responsibility to complete the FY2021 budget by this year’s deadline of Friday, May 8, 2020. They did great work on the budget and other bills in a very challenging environment to social distance, maintain their health and safety and complete their work in a timely manner. Thank you to our pro-life legislators that stood firm on our pro-life values through all the rush to complete the people’s work!

With consideration of Governor Parson’s recommended changes and budget leader’s analysis regarding the COVID 19 situation in our state, the House and Senate came to agreement on the budget bills that maintain our pro-life protections and fund some great life-saving programs (see below).

Pro-Life language remained in budget bill HB 2007 for the Department of Economic Development. This pro-life language is to prevent the public tax dollars directed to the Missouri Technology Corporation from being given to any company that does human cloning, embryonic stem cell research, or does abortion or provides abortion services.

Pro-Life language on budget bill HB 2010, the Department of Health and Senior Services, prevents any public funding for abortion or abortion services in Family Planning services in Section 10.725. And, Part 3, Section 10.1100 of HB 2010, is the protective language for the entire budget monies in HB 2010 from being used for abortion or abortion services.

Pro-Life language on budget bill HB 2011, the Department of Social Services, provides funding for the following pro-life programs as well as protective language to prevent funding for abortion or abortion services:

Alternatives to Abortion program (Section 11.155), includes the following but is not limited to these items: funding available for A2A agencies (PRC’s & Maternity Homes) diapers & infant hygiene, healthy marriage and fatherhood initiative and the awareness advertising program. Total: $8,958,561.00.

The Show-Me Healthy Babies program for pregnant women (Section 11.805). Total: $39,278,104.00

Part 2, Section 11.920 is protective language to prevent funding through this budget bill to expand Medicaid as outlined by the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Without this protective language public monies could have been used for abortion or abortion services.

Part 3, Section 11.930 is protective language for the entire budget monies in HB 2011 from being used for abortion or abortion services.

While there were some challenging moments, in the end innocent human lives were protected across the spectrum of issues that our pro-life majorities discussed in these challenging times.

Your Missouri Right to Life team was on the job throughout this legislative session and it was a challenging session. But, through it all, we worked to ensure pro-life protections were on the bills where innocent lives would be threatened.

In upcoming Lifelines, we will be discussing some issues you will see on your ballot as you go to the polls in November, as well as endorsements by our MRL PAC for the August and November elections. Remember, your pro-life vote enables us to work with pro-life legislators and get pro-life protections on legislation.

A special thank you to all legislators that stayed with Missouri Right to Life and stood for the protection of innocent human lives during this challenging legislative session!

Life Links

The Value of Life, during the Corona Crisis and Always

Link - Although we have stopped so much of our regular activity to protect vulnerable human life, what about the inconsistences?

Here’s Why Pro-Lifers Should Vote for Trump, Even if They Don’t Like Him

Link - While pro-life advocates such as yourselves know what President Trump has done to save innocent human lives from the abortion industry, many other Catholics may not be aware. They may not understand what is at stake in this upcoming election. Please share this with those of your Catholic friends and family that would be receptive to this message.

Good news. Full 9th Circuit refuses to review its decision upholding Trump Administration’s “Protect Life Rule”

Link - When an 11-member panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a three-judge panel’s decision upholding the Trump Administration’s “Protect Life Rule,” the state of California asked the Court to rehear its en banc decision.

NRLC tells House it strongly opposes bill that would prop up the abortion industry

Link 1, Link 2 - National Right to Life Sends Letter to U.S. House of Representatives in Opposition to HR 6800 (Pelosi’s latest Stimulus Bill) containing multiple provisions aimed at propping up the abortion industry.

I’m an ER Physician. Here’s Why Abortion Isn’t an ‘Essential Health Service.’

Link - Working in emergency rooms as an emergency medicine physician of more than 20 years, I’m particularly concerned that abortion activists have been promoting and advocating abortion as an “essential health service.”

It Is Not Hypocrisy for Pro-Lifers to Accept a Risk of Death

Link - Deliberate killing and unintentionally accepting a risk of death are very different things.

Bishop Says “You Can’t be an Authentic Catholic and Pro-Abortion”

Link - U.S. Catholic bishops are raising their voices for the rights of unborn babies as some high-level politicians claim to be Catholic while supporting abortion on demand.

134 Pregnant Women in Los Angeles Tested Positive for Coronavirus, But None of Their Babies Did

Link - Evidence about the coronavirus and its effects on unborn babies remains slim. But what little there is may give pregnant mothers reasons to hope.

FoxNews: 'The Price is Right' special donates almost $100,000 to Planned Parenthood, sparks debate

Link - CBS’ primetime special “The Price is Right At Night” sparked heated reactions from viewers on social media over its decision to donate nearly $100,000 to Planned Parenthood.

Mail-In Ballots Are a Recipe for Confusion, Coercion, and Fraud

Link - Enormous pressure is being mounted to use our current crisis as an excuse to transform how we vote in elections.

Ezekiel Emanuel Wants to Control Your Health Care

Link - Emanuel was a prime architect of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, and remains one of the law’s most enthusiastic apologists.

Pro-Life Around the State

The Western Region Golf Tournament has been postponed due to the Coronavirus. No date has been set at this time. Please watch for a new date.

Call to Prayer: Walking with Moms in Need - The “Call to Prayer” is the first phase of the Walking with Moms initiative in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Please join us in prayer at 3 p.m. each day for pregnant and parenting mothers! Click here for more details.

May 16 - St. Louis - Pray for Life: Helpers Mass to Be Live-Streamed from Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis at 8 a.m. Click here to access Mass live stream.

July 11 - Jefferson City - Pregnancy Help Center 5K Walk/Run, 8:30 am in Memorial Park.

July 24 - St. Louis - Missouri Right to Life "FORE Life" Golf Tournament. Lunch/Registration - 11:00 a.m. with a 12:30 p.m. Shotgun Start. Click here to register.

September 12 - Jefferson City - Missouri Right to Life Statewide Leadership Meeting. Details coming soon.

MRL Eastern Region has copies of Abby Johnson’s presentation at the 43rd Annual Respect Life Convention, October 13, in St. Louis. They also have copies of the movies Gosnell and Unplanned. If anyone would like to arrange a showing in their chapter or church group, please contact [email protected].