LETTERS: HOWARD'S RECORD ON PRO-FAMILY, PRO-LIFE IS SPOTTY

I recently received the Missouri Senate News from state Sen. Jerry Howard that painted the senator as a pro-life champion. I did some homework. My sources were the Senate Journal, Missouri Right to Life, Missouri Family Network and the National Political Awareness Test.

In 1995, Senate Bill 279 stated, "The policy of Missouri is to prefer live childbirth over abortion." Howard voted to remove this, basically gutting the pro-life strength of the bill.

In a 1996 response to the National Political Awareness Test, Howard did not endorse the principle that "abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements." He did indicate, however, that "abortions should always be legally available."

In 1997, Howard voted for a ban on partial-birth abortion in the regular legislative session. When the governor vetoed the bill, Howard changed his mind and voted against the ban by refusing to override the veto. That bill failed by one vote.

The Missouri Family Network, a family advocacy group in Jefferson City, rated Howard on pro-family issues at 45 percent in 1991 and 70 percent in 1992. When considering only pro-life legislation, not the following ratings: 20 percent in 1993, 0 percent in 1994, 30 percent in 1995, 50 percent in 1996, 20 percent in 1997 and 0 percent in 1998. 1999 and 2000 were not available.

The senator's pro-life and pro-family ratings were significantly higher in two election years, 1992 and 1996. In a cumulative assessment of 1991-98 on a variety of pro-family issues, Missouri Family Network gives Howard a rating of only 33 percent.

It is true that in 1999 Howard voted to override the governor's veto of a ban on partial-birth abortion, outlawing the practice in Missouri. I applaud Howard.

Howard's voting history on abortion-related matters is, at best, inconsistent. There are two nagging questions in my mind. How would Howard have voted in 1999 is this had not been an election year? And, if re-elected, will he vote pro-life and pro-family next year, and the next?

The disturbing fact is, because of term limits, if Howard is re-elected to a final term, he would basically be unaccountable to his pro-life constituents.

The REV. DOUG SCOTT

Puxico, Mo.