Abortion

A bill that would improve health care access for Missouri women almost died in the House after some lawmakers conflated birth control legislation with abortion medication.

The state is shaping up to be a big battleground over abortion rights in November. Research shows a majority of U.S. Catholics support abortion rights — even though church leadership does not.

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom said they turned in more than 380,000 signatures into the Secretary of State’s office. The signatures must now be verified.

Missouri could be the first test of a more aggressive strategy to keep abortion off the ballot and out of the state constitution.

One poll shows a quarter of GOP respondents would vote to legalize abortion in Missouri while Republicans would still win the governorship.

The legislation comes after several unsuccessful attempts to stop public funds from going to abortion providers or affiliates through the budget process. The bill now goes to Gov. Mike Parson.

More than $10 million — much of it from outside the state — has been raised to push proposals for abortion rights, sports wagering and to raise the minimum wage in Missouri.

Unless Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft uses an unusual procedure to speed up counting petition signatures, a bid to legalize abortion won’t go before voters until after the Aug. 6 primary.

Kloss, who is known for her philanthropy, was in the St. Louis area to help gather signatures for an abortion legalization petition. She also participated in a ceremony officially naming a portion of Washington Avenue after her.

A GOP-backed bill would block Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood. Health care providers fear it will harm patients’ access to critical care.