Health Committee hears new abortion bill
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Health Committee hears new abortion bill

Date: February 9, 2011
By: Megan McGinnis
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
Today the house health care policy committee discussed a bill which could ban late term abortion.
RunTime:  0:50
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Today the House health care policy committee held a hearing on House Bill 213. 

The bill, sponsored by Representative Timothy Jones, is a serious effort to end late term abortions. A practice that he called barbaric. 

Actuality:  JONES10.WAV
Run Time:  00:10
Description: "They are relatively, in my opinion indefensible, which is why I have created a constitutionally defenseable bill to try to prohibit them for real".

 

The new bill would ban any abortion of a viable unborn child, except in certain specified situations. 

If a child is 20 weeks old, and declared viable by two physicians   than the abortion will not be allowed.  A child is considered viable if it could survive outside the womb.

 

Representative Jones says that his bill has plenty of support, on both sides of the aisle.

An executive decision on this bill, will occur next week at the earliest.

From Jefferson City, I'm Megan McGinnis.

Intro: 
The House Health care Policy committee heard Wednesday, a bill which would ban almost all late term abortions.  Megan McGinnis has more from Jefferson City.
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OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The Bill would specify that no abortion of a viable unborn child can be preformed, except in the case of medical emergency.

Representative Tim Jones of St. Louis County is the sponsor of the bill.  He says this bill would protect some of societies neediest members.

Actuality:  JONES9.WAV
Run Time:  00:12
Description: "The state should act to protect and provide for the most needy, I cannot think of anyone more innocent and more needy than an unborn child".

 

Jones' bill would impose a long list of regulations for handling late term abortion.

The only exception for aborting a viable fetus, would be if the pregnancy endangered the health of the mother.

Only one person testified against the bill, saying it is unconstitutional.

From Jefferson City, I'm Megan McGinnis.

 

Intro: 
Missouri has one of the nations strictest abortion laws, and lawmakers continued to regulate that policy Wednesday. Megan McGinnis has more from Jefferson City.
RunTime:  0:49
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Representative Tim Jones of St. Louis County is sponsoring a bill which he says improves Missouri's current late term abortion law.

Actuality:  JONES11.WAV
Run Time:  00:10
Description: So although one could argue that we already do have a late term abortion ban, in this state, it is not one that is truly effective."

The House Committee on Health Care Policy heard the bill on Wednesday.

The bill expands on the definition of viability. A viable fetus would not be able to be aborted except when the health of the mother is in danger.

The viability of a fetus must be determined by two doctors.  To be considered viable the fetus must be able to survive outside the womb.

An executive vote could be taken on this bill as early as next week.

Only one person testified in opposition to the bill, saying it was unconstitutional.

From Jefferson City, I'm Megan McGinnis.