House OKs banning indirect abortion subsidies

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Organizations that provide abortions would be barred from receiving state money for unrelated family planning services under legislation given final approval Monday by the House of Representatives.

Existing law prevents direct taxpayer funding of abortions. The bill sponsored by House Majority Floor Leader Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, would take that restriction a step further.

In order for a group to be eligible for state funding, it wouldn't be allowed to affiliate with an abortion provider in any way, including sharing office space, personnel or even the same name.

'Paying rent'

"By paying rent on places where the execution of abortions is performed, taxpayers are indirectly subsidizing abortion services," Crowell said.

The House forwarded the bill to the Senate on a 106-34 vote. No Southeast Missouri representatives voted against the measure.

Gov. Bob Holden, a Democrat, last week vowed to veto any legislation that would reduce women's access to abortion services.

The bill seeks to permanently codify language lawmakers have inserted in the state budget for several years in attempts to deny funding to Planned Parenthood, the main abortion provider in Missouri. However, lawmakers' efforts to do so through the appropriations process proved ineffective.

Opponents of the bill said it would prevent low-income women from receiving essential health-care services.

"This particular piece of legislation does nothing to further the goals of those who want to limit abortions," said state Rep. Vicky Riback Wilson, D-Columbia. "It only has potential for the opposite effect."

Crowell's bill would also bar state funding of medical research related to abortion or human cloning.

Any Missouri taxpayer would have standing to file a lawsuit challenging the improper payment of state funds to abortion providers. The issue of standing derailed a previous lawsuit seeking to enforce the appropriations language that sought to keep Planned Parenthood from receiving state family planning money.

The bill is HB 481.

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