The voters in Missouri will determine the future of abortion access in the state. The State Supreme Court has reversed a lower court’s decision, which means that access to reproductive care will be on the November ballot.
This is the fifth legal challenge that Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the group behind Amendment Three, has won. Today’s decision is not only a victory for reproductive freedom but also for direct democracy in Missouri.
The issue at the Supreme Court was whether Amendment Three should be thrown off the ballot because it did not list all the laws that would be repealed if it passed. However, attorneys argued that it would not repeal laws but instead supersede and overlap with existing statutes.
The Supreme Court agreed with this argument and reversed the lower court’s decision, thus putting Amendment Three back on the ballot.
While there were cheers on the statehouse steps after the decision was announced, pro-life protesters who had camped out on the steps of the Supreme Court were disappointed with the ruling.
They expressed disbelief and expected the court to follow the law. Advocates who brought this suit are not giving up and believe that Amendment Three should be defeated. They will continue to fight against it.
Now, the focus for both proponents and opponents of this amendment is to present their ideas and pitches to the voters. However, the possibility of future legal challenges has not been ruled out.
The Supreme Court justices also weighed in on Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s attempt to decertify the amendment based on the lower court’s ruling. The outcome of the November 5th vote will determine the next steps in this ongoing debate.
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom reports over $30M in finance reports for abortion amendment.
Millions of dollars are being invested in the campaign for a proposed amendment on abortion access in Missouri. According to the recent campaign finance report of Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, they have received a total of $30,650,643.79 in donations. This report was filed electronically on October 28, 2024, as part of the ongoing disclosures leading up to the election on November 5, 2024. After accounting for all receipts and disbursements, the campaign’s ending balance is $21,812,236.83. Notably, the PAC has received significant contributions from Planned Parenthood and ACLU groups from across the country. Former New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, has also donated $1 million to the cause.
In contrast, Missouri Right to Life’s political action committee has received $1,195,755.06 during the campaign and currently has over $366,000 available for the final days leading up to the election. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson, Missouri was among the first states to implement a ban on abortion outside of medical emergencies.
Missouri Amendment 3 aims to modify existing laws related to reproductive health care. The proposed changes include the removal of the state’s abortion ban and the implementation of regulations intended to safeguard patient health. The amendment seeks to ensure that individuals have the freedom to make decisions about their reproductive health care without interference from the government.
The campaign to pass a proposed amendment concerning abortion access in Missouri is attracting millions of dollars in funding.
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom has recently disclosed a total receipt of $30,650,643.79 in its campaign finance report.
The financial report, which was electronically filed on October 28, 2024, is one of the ongoing disclosures that precede the election on November 5, 2024.
After taking into consideration all the receipts and disbursements, the campaign’s ending balance currently amounts to $21,812,236.83.
The PAC has received substantial donations from different Planned Parenthood and ACLU groups nationwide. One notable contribution came from Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City, who generously donated $1 million.
Missouri Right to Life’s political action committee has managed to amass a significant amount of funds, receiving a staggering $1,195,755.06 throughout the campaign. As the election draws near, they currently have an impressive balance of over $366,000 at their disposal.
Missouri Joins States in Implementing Abortion Ban Following Supreme Court Ruling
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson, Missouri has taken swift action to implement a ban on abortion, becoming one of the first states to do so outside of medical emergencies. This decision comes as part of a broader movement among conservative states to restrict access to abortion, stirring up a heated debate across the nation.
Missouri Amendment 3 seeks to modify current laws governing reproductive health care, aiming to eliminate the state’s abortion ban and implement regulations aimed at safeguarding patient well-being.
