Abortion Coercion bill passes from House to Senate with overwhelming majority.
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Abortion Coercion bill passes from House to Senate with overwhelming majority.

Date: March 11, 2009
By: Allison Blood
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB 46

Intro: Despite Governor Jay Nixon's opposition to anti-abortion legislation, the House passed a bill Wednesday limiting at least some abortions.

Allison Blood has more from Jefferson City.

RunTime:0:40
OutCue: SOC

The bill, sponsored by high-ranking Republican Bryan Pratt, aims to create harsher punishments for those who force women to get an abortion.

Pratt said the bill would do more than just curb the number of abortions in the state.

 
Actuality:  BPRATT2.WAV
Run Time: 00:08
Description: My hope is that if this bill passes not only will there be fewer abortions in the state of Missouri but I hope to increase the prosecution of those that rape and incest especially of young children.
 
Opposition argues there are logistical problems with the bill because it leaves doctors liable if they can't prove their patients weren't coerced.
 
The measure was passed by both Republicans and Democrats with a veto-proof majority.
 
Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Allison Blood, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: Over two-thirds of Representatives agreed to send an anti-abortion bill to the Senate Wednesday, despite opposition from the Governor.

Allison Blood has more from the State Capitol.

RunTime:0:40
OutCue: SOC

The bill would create harsher punishment for those who force women to have an abortion.

Republican Representatives said it will decrease abortions and increase prosecution of those who commit rape and incest.

Democratic Representative Margo McNiel says the bill is too vague to be effective.

 
Actuality:  MCNEIL.WAV
Run Time: 00:12
Description: When you go into an office, medical professionals see a young woman, and what are they looking for to determine whether a woman was coerced?

McNiel challenged supporters to provide a way for physicians to determine if their patients chose to have an abortion.

From the State Capitol, I'm Allison Blood, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.


Intro: A veto-proof majority in the House passed a bill Wednesday to limit some abortions, despite Governor Jay Nixon's opposition.

Allison Blood has more from Jefferson City.

RunTime:0:37
OutCue: SOC

The bill that would impose harsher punishment on people who force women into abortions, received bi-partisan support in the House.

St. Louis Democratic Representative, Patricia Yaeger, said she voted for the bill despite Nixon's opposition.

 
Actuality:  YAEGER1.WAV
Run Time: 00:06
Description: I've always been a pro-life democrat since I've came up here and it didn't change just because we have a different Governor.
 
Those who oppose the bill say is too vague to protect doctors against liability, because there is not way for women to prove they were forced into having an abortion.
 
A similar bill failed in the Senate last year.
 
From State Capitol, I'm Allison Blood, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.