SENATE APPROVES ABORTION MEASURE

The Missouri Senate voted Thursday to outlaw partial-birth abortions.

The Senate approved the bill by a vote of 28-3 and sent it to the House, where passage also is likely.

"I am enormously gratified and humbled by the vote," said the bill's sponsor, state Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau.

The bill would make it a felony for a doctor to perform a partial-birth abortion except to save the mother's life.

The abortion procedure involves partially removing the fetus, legs first, through the birth canal. An incision is made in the base of the skull and the brain is removed through a suction tube.

Opponents say existing restrictions on late-term abortions make the bill unnecessary.

Gov. Mel Carnahan, who has supported abortion rights, has repeatedly said he believes partial-birth abortions already are illegal in Missouri.

Carnahan spokesman Chris Sifford said the governor will review the bill to see if it makes any changes in existing law.

Kinder said the governor is wrong in thinking the bill is redundant.

He said Carnahan's position is "especially suspect" since the governor consistently has vetoed anti-abortion bills.

If the bill passes the House, it would go to the governor, who could veto it.

Kinder said he would seek to have the Legislature override any veto.

Sen. Ken Jacob, D-Columbia, said the legislation is unconstitutional and won't be upheld by the courts.

"He is wrong," Kinder said. "It is carefully drafted to withstand constitutional attack."

Similar legislation has been introduced in the House. That measure has 97 co-sponsors, far more than the 82 needed to pass a bill.

One of those co-sponsors is state Rep. Joe Heckemeyer, D-Sikeston.

But he said the issue is largely about politics. "It is political grandstanding to the hilt. That is what bothers me about the whole deal."

Kinder said he resented the accusation. "That is an unfair accusation and he is wrong."

Heckemeyer opposes partial-birth abortions. But he said far more would be gained by promoting grassroots efforts to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

"We don't even address the issue of contraceptives," he said.

Heckemeyer said the bill would impact few abortions in Missouri. Most of the abortions done in Missouri are early-term procedures, which are legal.

"It is a shame we put all this effort and time into trying to pass a piece of legislation that may already be in effect," he said.

Both of Cape Girardeau County's state representatives -- Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, and David Schwab, R-Jackson -- support a ban on partial-birth abortions.

"It is a horrible procedure," Schwab said.

Schwab said the legislation has enough support from lawmakers to make it close to veto proof.

Kasten said Missouri traditionally has had a "pro-life" legislature.