Now that the Missouri Legislature has just wrapped up its 2008 session largely ignoring the pleas of pro-lifers to pass a bill criminalizing coerced abortions and oppose funding for life science grants, some political candidates in MO are making life issues a priority on the campaign trail.
Yesterday, Gubernatorial Republican candidate Sarah Steelman held a press conference at a former abortion clinic in Springfield calling on Gov. Matt Blunt to hold a special session in order to pass the coerced abortion bill that didn’t go through this year. She called it her “Life is Precious Initiative” saying, “So what more urgent need to do we have in this state than to protect life? It is only complacency that would allow us not to realize this is an issue that we should act on today.” If no special session takes place, Steelman says she would make this a “top priority” in her administration.
Other Republican candidate for Gov., Kenny Hulshoff, was also in Springfield yesterday addressing the Pregnancy Care Center on National Avenue. Kenny also voiced support for the coerced abortions bill, but stopped short of calling for a special session which he doubts would be viable. His big message was laying out his plan to push for the creation of statewide donor banks for umbilical cord blood research in order to attract federal grants and create jobs.
Finally, Republican congressional candidate for the 9th district, Bob Onder, will join Democrat candidate Ken Jacob in a debate about abortion policies (Dr. Onder was the sponsor of the coerced abortion bill in the House this year). The debate will be held on June 5 at 7p.m. on the University of Missouri campus in Waters Auditorium. The debate is open to the public, doors will open at 6:40 and seating is limited.
The political season is finally upon us, folks (even though the presidential candidates have been at this for about two years now). Let the games begin!
Previous posts:
Kenny Hulshoff for Governor
Bob Onder for Congress
Exposing Coerced Abortions in Missouri
Threatening a Woman’s “Right to Choose”