As Missouri abortion advocates gather signatures for legalization, lawmakers mull their options
The campaign kickoff comes as some Missouri lawmakers are scrambling to try to put something on the ballot that would raise the threshold to amend the state constitution — which abortion rights opponents have explicitly stated is aimed at thwarting Missourians for Constitutional Freedom’s initiative.
“At this point, where there's so much at stake, the gloves are off, and we're willing to do whatever it takes to protect life, and to ensure that our constitution is protected,” Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, said last month. “That's what we swear an oath to protect and defend your beliefs.”
While there are various proposals floating around the GOP-controlled legislature, one measure lawmakers may send to the ballot would require any proposed constitutional amendment to prevail in a majority of state House districts. It would also give “exclusive authority” to enact laws enforcing provisions in the constitution relating to initiative petitions proposing constitutional amendments.
But the only possible way for a measure boosting the threshold to pass constitutional amendments to affect the abortion legalization initiative is for the two proposals to be voted on in different elections this year. Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, would ultimately make that call, and the sequencing could have significant consequences for the Missouri GOP.
https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2024-02-12/as-missouri-abortion-advocates-gather-signatures-for-legalization-lawmakers-mull-their-options
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