STATE BUDGET PACT REACHED; WITH SESSION'S CLOSE, CARNAHAN GETS BILL

The Missouri Legislature ended its special session Thursday when lawmakers agreed to a budget bill barring abortion-provider Planned Parenthood from receiving state family planning money.

Gov. Mel Carnahan, a supporter of abortion rights, said he might veto budget language to keep state money flowing to Planned Parenthood.

But state Rep. David Schwab, R-Jackson, an abortion opponent, argued that such a move is illegal.

"I would be very surprised to see him do it," said Schwab. He said such a line-item veto also would anger Democratic lawmakers who oppose abortion.

Supporters of the funding ban said the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that governors can't delete or alter the purpose of a spending bill.

Carnahan called the special session after the House and Senate couldn't resolve the funding issue during the regular session, which ended May 16. The special session lasted five days.

Senators made few changes in the House language, which bars agencies that perform or encourage abortions from receiving any of the $6.5 million in state money set aside for family planning

The family planning provision is part of an $868.6 million bill to fund Missouri's health and mental-health departments.

The Legislature also approved a bill that budgets $220 million for Missouri's courts and the salaries of elected officials.

The issue of funding for Planned Parenthood had divided Cape Girardeau County's three Republican lawmakers. Schwab and Rep. Mary Kasten of Cape Girardeau had supported the ban all along. State Sen. Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau opposes abortion. But he had sided with the majority of senators who felt the House funding ban wouldn't hold up in court.

The House added contingency plans to its bill in case the courts strike down the budget language that prohibits state funding for agencies that perform, assist or encourage abortions.

Kinder said he joined with a majority of senators in supporting the bill because of the contingency provisions.

Those provisions include allocating funds only to government-run health clinics, which would still keep the private Planned Parenthood agency from receiving state tax dollars.

"I am happy personally that we arrived at compromise language that cuts Planned Parenthood out," said Kinder.

"We think we have done it in a constitutional manner and I am very happy with it," he said.

He said the budget battle in recent weeks had put him in an uncomfortable position of voting for a budget that included money for Planned Parenthood.

The Senate voted 21-13 for the funding ban Thursday. Sens. Danny Staples, D-Eminence, and Jerry Howard, D-Dexter, voted against it.

Howard was one of a group of senators who filed a constitutional objection to the bill. The objection carries no power, but it could set the stage for a court challenge.

"It is an extraordinary step to take," said Kinder.

All of Southeast Missouri's House members in both parties voted for the bill except for Rep. Pat Naeger, R-Perryville, who didn't attend Thursday's session in Jefferson City.

Naeger said business reasons kept him home.

"I had a business back home that was in dire need of me and I had made plans to let people off," he said.

He said House leaders assured him that they had enough votes to approve the budget bill.

Naeger strongly supported the House ban in an earlier vote in Jefferson City this week.

"This isn't about a women's choice. It's about taxpayers' choice of whether to fund those types of facilities that do abortions," he said.

"No judge should have the ability to overrule the taxpayers of this state," said Naeger.