Mo. House, Senate pass separate abortion bans
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Mo. House, Senate pass separate abortion bans

Date: May 12, 2011
By: Theo Keith
State Capitol Bureau
Links: SS SCS SB 65

Intro: 
To stop what they called 'barbaric murder,' Missouri Republicans approved a ban on late-term abortions Thursday.
RunTime:  0:39
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: After a final House vote, the bill is on to Gov. Jay Nixon.

It would halt abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy.

Jefferson County Republican John McCaherty was one supporter.

Actuality:  MCCAHERT.WAV
Run Time:  00:11
Description: "We talk about landowner rights and business rights and worker rights. It's high time we talked about the rights of the child."

On the other side, Democrats said the decision belongs with the woman, her doctor, and God -- not the government.

A leading abortion-rights supporter in the Senate said these late terminations are so rare that the bill is inconsequential.

From the state Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, NewsRadio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: 
Missouri's legislature has passed a ban on late-term abortions onto the governor.
RunTime:  0:43
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The final vote came in the House to ban abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy.

Republican Majority Leader Tim Jones urged lawmakers to support the ban.

Actuality:  JONES.WAV
Run Time:  00:13
Description: "If you oppose the barbaric practice of late-term abortions, and the anecdotes are countless and endless and unceasing, and I could go through them in all their gory details, but I'll spare the body."

Republicans said lawmakers should care about the rights of a fetus as much as the animal rights they've debated this session.

But a leading abortion-rights supporter in the Senate said the late-term abortions are so rare that the bill is inconsequential.

It still need's Gov. Jay Nixon's signature.

From the state Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, NewsRadio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: 
Missouri Democrats say the state has no right to ban late-term abortions, but that's exactly what the legislature voted to do Thursday.
RunTime:  0:36
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: With just a day left in the legislative session, Republicans made sure anti-abortion legislation was one of the final issues.

They said abortion after 20 weeks of pregancy was like "barbaric murder."

Democrats, like St. Louis County Representative Stacey Neuman, say the decision should be left to the women in the situation.

Actuality:  NEUMAN1.WAV
Run Time:  00:06
Description: "A woman needs to rely on the expertise of her physicians, not politicians, not the state."

Neuman's plea was not enough, as Republicans passed the bill 121-33.

It still needs Gov. Jay Nixon's approval before becoming law.

From the state Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, NewsRadio 1120 KMOX.