mocatholic

Legislature Passes Telemedicine Abortion Ban

May 212013
 

The Missouri General Assembly passed legislation last week that will prevent the spread of telemedicine abortions in Missouri. HB 400, sponsored by Representative Jeanie Riddle (R-Mokane), passed the House by a vote of 115-39 and the Senate by a vote of 23-7.

This bill will prevent Planned Parenthood and others from setting up clinics in remote portions of Missouri to perform telemedicine abortions. The legislation requires that a physician be present to administer RU-486, the drug most commonly used in non-surgical abortions, and will stop any efforts by Planned Parenthood and others to perform telemedicine abortions in Missouri.

Women seeking a medical abortion currently take RU-486 at the clinic and are then given a dose to take at home, 24 to 48 hours later. Under the legislation, the physician prescribing or dispensing an abortion-inducing drug would need to be present for the initial dose.

In Iowa there are 17 clinics that perform these abortions via video conferencing. The passage of this legislation ensures that that will not happen in Missouri. The bill now goes to the governor’s desk.

 May 21, 2013  Posted by at 10:00 am Abortion, Abortion-Drug Mandate, Missouri General Assembly, News No Responses »

Low-Income Renters’ Credit Saved

May 212013
 

The last week of the session began with some good news when Governor Jay Nixon vetoed SB 350, a bill passed by the general assembly that would have repealed an existing tax credit that assists the low-income elderly and disabled. The MCC opposed SB 350 and urged the governor to veto it.

The tax credit saved by the governor is available to renters who are elderly (65 and older) or disabled and who have household incomes of $27,500 or less if single, or $29,500 or less if married. Over 104,000 Missourians from all corners of the state receive this assistance, which averages $534 annually.

The MCC joined many others in saving this tax credit. Lou Defeo, a former executive director of the MCC who now provides legal and tax services to the poor at the Jefferson City Samaritan Center, met with legislators and staff of the governor to provide first-hand accounts of how the credit assists veterans and many others in Central Missouri.

Meanwhile, MCC Network members made contacts with legislators and later with the governor’s office. The sustained advocacy made a difference. When the session opened, even Governor Nixon had supported repeal of the low-income renters’ credit. But over time, the governor and others began to realize how important the credit was in providing assistance to the poor as well as injecting money into local economies.

The House vote passing SB 350 fell well short of the 109 votes needed to override the governor’s veto. It appears doubtful that an effort will be made in the September veto session to override the governor’s rejection of SB 350. Thanks to all MCC Network members who responded to our calls for action. You made a difference and helped the poor with your prompt responses.

 May 21, 2013  Posted by at 9:26 am Church Concerns, Missouri General Assembly, News No Responses »

Juvenile Bill Passes Legislature

May 212013
 

Sometimes a small change can make a big difference. That’s the hope behind a juvenile bill that passed the general assembly in the final days of the session. SB 36 would extend the age to 17 ½ years old that a juvenile could remain under the jurisdiction of the Division of Youth Services (DYS).

Sponsored by Senator Wayne Wallingford (R-Cape Girardeau), this bill adds six months eligibility that the court must consider when imposing a juvenile sentence. Also known as Jonathon’s Law, SB 36 was filed in response to a young man from southeast Missouri who committed suicide after being sentenced to an adult institution rather than DYS. The bill also requires that if the court does not choose DYS, it must state the reasons for its choice.

The MCC supported SB 36 because the U.S. Bishops have urged that youthful offenders should be treated differently than adult offenders. Missouri’s DYS is recognized as a national leader for its successful juvenile justice program in rehabilitating young offenders.

The bill now awaits the governor’s signature to become law.

 May 21, 2013  Posted by at 9:24 am Criminal Justice, Missouri General Assembly, News No Responses »

Cloned Human Embryos Produced

May 212013
 
Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University announced last week that they have produced embryonic stem cells from cloned human embryos that are genetically identical to an 8-month-old child who needs treatment.
Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston issued a statement that said human cloning was immoral, even if for therapeutic purposes. “Whether used for one purpose or the other, human cloning treats human beings as products, manufactured to order to suit other people’s wishes. It is inconsistent with our moral responsibility to treat each member of the human family as a unique gift of God, as a person with his or her own inherent dignity. A technical advance in human cloning is not progress for humanity but its opposite.”

The researchers in Oregon created more than 120 human embryos to produce six embryonic stem cell lines. Researchers say they never intended for their actions to lead to the birth of a child, but noted the stem cells would be used as “replacement” tissue or organs, and to help treat some diseases, the New York Times reported.

 May 21, 2013  Posted by at 9:22 am Church Concerns, Life Ethics, News No Responses »

Veteran’s Court Bill Goes to Governor

May 212013
 

The Missouri General Assembly last week passed legislation (SB 118) that will allow veterans in Missouri who commit certain low level crimes to participate in a special court tailored to their needs. Sponsored by Senator Will Kraus (R-Lee’s Summit), this bill authorizes circuit courts, or a combination of circuit courts, to establish veteran’s treatment courts for military personnel struggling with addictions or serious mental illness.

The MCC supported veteran’s courts because they address the unique needs of veterans and are based on the highly successful drug court model. Missouri currently has four veteran’s treatment courts, but without statutory authority federal funds are not available to these courts to provide services to participants.

The bill will become law if signed by Governor Nixon.

 May 21, 2013  Posted by at 9:19 am Criminal Justice, Missouri General Assembly, News No Responses »

Medicaid Saga Continues

May 212013
 

Without a doubt the biggest disappointment of the legislative session was the failure of the general assembly to reform Medicaid and offer health coverage to an estimated 260,000 uninsured Missourians.

Representative Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson City) spent a large portion of this year’s session working with other legislators to develop consensus on a Medicaid reform bill. HB 700 was approved by a House committee but after the Senate expressed little interest in Medicaid reform, Representative Barnes put his bill aside.

Legislation was passed that permits the legislature to create an interim committee to explore how to reform Medicaid. If the interim committee is established, the MCC will track its work and continue to advocate for reforming and expanding Medicaid so that more of the uninsured working poor can obtain affordable health coverage.

 May 21, 2013  Posted by at 8:57 am Missouri General Assembly, News No Responses »

Abortion Doctor Convicted of First Degree Murder

May 212013
 

Philadelphia abortion provider Dr. Kermit Gosnell was convicted Monday, May 13 of three counts of first-degree murder for the death of three babies that prosecutors said were delivered alive and subsequently killed. The jury also found Gosnell not guilty of third-degree murder but guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 41-year-old woman who died after an anesthesia overdose during a 2009 abortion. He was also convicted of infanticide, conspiracy, and running a corrupt organization.

This conviction was handed down on the same day that the Missouri Legislature passed HB 400, which now outlaws telemedicine abortions in Missouri.

In a statement regarding the conviction, Cardinal Sean O’Malley said “Dr. Gosnell’s trial brought much-needed attention to the tragedy of abortion. His murder convictions of newly delivered infants have caused many people to reexamine their positions on abortion.”

Click here to read the full statement.

 May 21, 2013  Posted by at 8:44 am Abortion, News No Responses »

Minnesota’s Passage of Same-Sex Marriage the “Height of Irony”

May 212013
 

Last week Minnesota became the 12th state in the nation to allow same-sex couples to wed. San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, called Minnesota’s action,which came just after Mother’s Day, “the height of irony.”

Archbishop Cordileone denounced the decision stating that, “Instead of strengthening, the Minnesota legislature’s decision to redefine marriage weakens motherhood and fatherhood, and so strikes a blow to all children who deserve both a mother and father.” Click here to read a press release concerning Archbishop Cordileone’s statement.

 May 21, 2013  Posted by at 8:41 am Marriage, News No Responses »

Missouri Senate Approves Telemedicine Abortion Ban

May 102013
 

By a vote of 23-7, the Missouri Senate approved a house bill this week that would effectively ban telemedicine abortions being performed in Missouri.

HB 400, sponsored by Representative Jeanie Riddle (R-Mokane), requires any physician ordering an abortion to be physically present when the patient is given medication to terminate a pregnancy. This requirement would prevent abortion providers from establishing clinics to perform chemical abortions via video conferencing technology.

A number of states surrounding Missouri, most notably Iowa, have set up such clinics. HB 400 now returns to the House, which is expected to pass the bill next week.

 May 10, 2013  Posted by at 3:00 pm Abortion, Abortion-Drug Mandate, Missouri General Assembly, News No Responses »

General Assembly Passes Repeal of Tax Credit for Low-Income Seniors/Disabled

May 102013
 

This week the Missouri General Assembly passed and sent to Governor Jay Nixon legislation that would repeal the renters’ portion of the Circuit Breaker Tax Credit. Over 104,000 seniors on fixed incomes and people with disabilities from all corners of Missouri rely on the credit to help them with basic necessities, such as paying for medications and catching up on bill payments.

Currently this credit is available to renters who are elderly (65 or older) or disabled and who have household incomes of $27,500 or less if single, or $29,500 or less if married. The average credit received is $534 annually.

The MCC had urged legislators in a floor letter to defeat SB 350.

People who work with the poor (such as Catholic Charities agencies and the Jefferson City Samaritan Center) know how important the low-income renters’ credit is. They have many stories of people coming for help who are grateful for the assistance offered by this credit.

Final approval of SB 350 came in a vote by the Missouri House of Representatives.

 May 10, 2013  Posted by at 2:54 pm Uncategorized No Responses »
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