Missouri House Speaker Jonathan Patterson, a Republican from Lee’s Summit, voted against a ballot question to repeal the state’s new right to abortion, despite the measure winning final approval in the House. Patterson stated that he did not believe his constituents would support the repeal. He was the only Republican to vote against the resolution.
The ballot question, which now moves to the Senate for consideration, would allow abortion in cases of fetal anomaly, medical emergencies, and in rape or incest cases up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Repealing the new right to abortion, established by Amendment 3, would potentially clear the way for additional restrictions.
Democrats criticized the proposed ballot language for not explicitly stating that the question would repeal Amendment 3, accusing it of being deceptive. Despite his opposition to the ballot question, Patterson defended the democratic process and the opportunity for dissenting voices to be heard.
The legislation, known as House Joint Resolution 73, has sparked strong reactions from both sides of the abortion debate, with supporters and opponents making their voices heard at the Missouri Capitol. The bill has reignited discussions around the legality and restrictions surrounding abortion in the state.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
