MCC Reviews 2005 Legislative Session

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, but mostly it was the worst of times. The “it” in question was this year’s session of the Missouri General Assembly and the best of its time came when it ended, mercifully, in the not so merry month of May on Friday the 13 th .

The last day of the session, so often a bedlam of breathless lobbyists, was strangely quiet. There was no sense of urgency.

If you were a business lobbyist or a public school advocate, the placid last day made perfect sense. The legislature had taken care of business literally, passing new laws on worker’s compensation and tort reform well before the last day. Lawmakers had even managed to pass a new formula for distributing state aid to public schools.

There was just one priority left to address – to pass a major anti-abortion bill. But somehow this priority – protecting innocent unborn life and the women carrying that life – got lost in the shuffle.

With just three days remaining in the session, Governor Blunt announced that passing an anti-abortion bill was a major priority. But by then the hour was late. Those opposing pro-life efforts could take heart from the hallowed traditions of the Missouri Senate where unlimited debate is respected and the filibuster is alive and well.

The Missouri House had a chance to pass the pro-life legislation (SB 2) on the second to last day but chose to change the bill and send it back to the Senate. Back in the Senate the bill never saw the light of day. Not enough Senators would sign a petition to end any filibuster that might emerge so the bill was never brought up.

While lawmakers couldn’t find the time to pass the pro-life bill, there was plenty of time to pass legislation calling for the end of Medicaid by June 30, 2008. In a very partisan debate, SB 539 whisked through both chambers with votes that pretty much followed party lines.

In fact, party alignment seemed to be more important than principles. If a caucus took a position on a bill, it became very difficult to nudge a particular lawmaker to a different position regardless of his or her private reservations. It was this kind of dogged loyalty that ultimately sunk the pro-life bill.

Too often during this session there was not conversation but political posturing. The House debate on the Medicaid bill (SB 539) focused on speeches. Not one amendment to this complex bill was adopted.

Fortunately, good work did occur in many committees. The House Appropriations Committee for Social Services restored some the cuts the governor had proposed. The Senate Appropriations Committee sought to restore even more, but their efforts fell short.

MCC staff has been asked many times since the session ended, “Where do we go from here?” It is a question that needs further prayer and discernment. But one thing is certain: we must find a way to invite lawmakers to embrace a higher loyalty than party affiliation.

Veteran observers of the political scene understand that politics is a team sport. But there are some issues that should transcend party affiliation.

No political party represents the sum of the common good that government should seek. And certainly no political party comes close to representing the fullness of Catholic moral and social teaching.

It can be very difficult and even politically costly for lawmakers to break ranks and vote their conscience. But the MCC depends on lawmakers who will do just that in order to uphold first principles like the sanctity and dignity of human life.

In the following pages of this issue are votes of crucial interest to Catholic voters in Missouri. Look and see how your state senator and state representative voted on these issues. Then let your state legislators know whether and how their votes affected the common good of all Missourians.