Missouri House approves bill to allow doctors to refuse prescription of birth control

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Intro:	The Missouri House endorsed a bill allowing your doctor to refuse prescribing birth control.
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Wrap: Republican House Speaker Tim Jones' bill would allow medical workers to refuse participating in procedures such as sterilization, stem cell research and contraception if it violated the person's moral beliefs.

Jones says the bill would protect the rights of doctors and nurses

St. Louis County Democratic Representative Stacey Newman says the bill is unfair and puts women at risk.

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Description: "These bills, this bill discriminates against women. This bill does not come from God, this bill comes from a legislator

Jones says those who spoke against the bill were "fear-mongering" and had not read the bill.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Michael Doudna.

Intro:	The Missouri House has backed a bill allowing medical professionals to refuse prescribing birth control due to personal beliefs.
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Wrap: Republican House Speaker Tim Jones' bill would allow medical professionals to refuse participating in procedures such as sterilization, stem cell research and contraception because of religious or ethical beliefs.

St. Louis County Democratic Representative Stacey Newman says the bill discriminates against women and puts them risk.

But Jones says the bill is not meant to deny coverage to women, only to protect the rights of medical workers.

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Description: "I would challenge those who decided to do fear-mongering on this floor instead of inquiring of me, to inquire of me. And I'll explain the bill to you because you obviously haven't read it."

The House endorsed the bill by a vote of 118 to 42.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Michael Doudna.

Intro:	The Missouri House has backed bill to allow your doctor to deny birth control prescriptions.
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OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Republican House Speaker Tim Jones says his bill would be a shield to medical workers' religious beliefs.

The bill would allow for them to refuse prescribing birth control and participating in procedures such as sterilization.

St. Louis County Democratic Representative Stacey Newman says the bill discriminates against women and puts them at risk.

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Run Time:	00:07
Description: "Is this what were going to do, is this the Todd Akin bill of the session? Come on, we know better."

Jones says his bill comes from God.

The House approved the bill 118-42.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Michael Doudna.

Intro:	The Missouri House has approved a bill would allow doctors who are anti-abortion to refuse certain reproductive services.
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Wrap: Republican House Speaker Tim Jones' bill would allow medical workers to opt-out of prescribing birth control if it violates their religious beliefs.

But Democratic Representative Jeremy LaFavre says the bill would take the decision out of the hands of those it effects.

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Description: "This piece of legislation today, has the ability to take away the rights I have has a husband and as a father. To do the things that I think I need to do, for me and my family."

Jones says the bill would not deny medical service to anyone but would simply protect the rights of medical professionals.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Michael Doudna.