Abortion

After Missouri voters passed Amendment 3 in November, enshrining the right to an abortion, Planned Parenthood sued to strike down several abortion restrictions in state law. A judge on Friday blocked some but not all of the restrictions.

Republican lawmakers have proposed a number of constitutional amendments that would overturn Amendment 3. Some include exceptions for survivors of rape or incest, a departure from the party’s recent stance on abortion.

Gov. Mike Parson is leaving office in January after more than six and a half years in the job.

Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan lamented his party’s lackluster 2024 election results on the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.

Judge Jerri Zhang has yet to issue her ruling in a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood that seeks to strike down the state’s ban on abortions. A voter-approved amendment protecting abortion access goes into effect Friday.

After voters approved Amendment 3 in November, Planned Parenthood attorneys want to overturn a number of Missouri laws that regulate abortion services and providers. A court decision on the lawsuit could come soon.

Anti-abortion rights groups and politicians argued before the November election that Amendment 3 would block most abortion restrictions. But Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is now arguing it doesn’t overturn some restrictions on clinics.

The leader of Planned Parenthood Great Plains says the move is a ploy to prevent a Jackson County judge from potentially knocking down other abortion restrictions.

The Democrat will represent portions of southwest St. Louis in the Missouri House when he’s sworn into office in January.

Missourians have backed ballot items supported by Democrats in the past decade while also giving Republicans unfettered control over state government.