Missouri judge strikes ballot language
Republicans had sought to word the constitutional amendment in cynical way
A Missouri Judge rewrote the ballot initiative that would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution after Republicans had attempted to word it in such a way as to make it as unappealing as possible.
The Missouri Independent reports Circuit Judge Jon Beetem wrote that the summaries crafted by Ashcroft completely ignored the initiative proposals’ protections for contraceptives and other reproductive health needs.
In a separate decision, Beetem upheld the fiscal note summary written by state Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, rejecting claims by two state lawmakers and an anti-abortion activist that passage would impose enormous costs not reflected in the summary.
The Court found that certain phrases included in the Secretary's summary statement are problematic in that they are either argumentative or do not fairly describe the purposes or probable effect of the initiative. The problematic phrases included:
"dangerous, unregulated, and unrestricted abortions"
"from conception to live birth"
"without requiring a medical license"
"without ... potentially being subject to medical malpractice"
"nullify longstanding Missouri law"
"the right to life"
"partial-birth abortion"
"including a minor"
"end the life"
"unborn child"
"at any time"
"potentially including tax-payer funding"
"prohibit any municipality, city, town, village, district, authority, public subdivision, or public corporation having the power to tax or regulate or the state of Missouri from regulating abortion procedures."
I've included the judgment below.
