Language used by the Missouri Secretary of State in an upcoming abortion amendment initiative has been thrown out by a circuit court judge, who called it “unfair, insufficient, inaccurate and misleading.”
Cole County Circuit Judge Cotton Walker ruled on ballot language proposed by Jay Ashcroft. His fair ballot language explained that the initiative would make abortion a constitutional right, but also explained:
A “yes” vote will enshrine the right to abortion at any time of a pregnancy in the Missouri Constitution. Additionally, it will prohibit any regulation of abortion, including regulations designed to protect women undergoing abortions and prohibit any civil or criminal recourse against anyone who performs an abortion and hurts or kills the pregnant women.
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the pro-abortion coalition behind the proposed amendment, sued to have this language rewritten, claiming that Ashcroft is intentionally trying to mislead voters because so many Missourians support legalized abortion. Yet this group is demonstrably biased; according to NBC News, it is comprised of ACLU of Missouri, Planned Parenthood Great Plains, Abortion Action Missouri, and other pro-abortion groups.
“I am appalled that factions want to use the courts to misrepresent the truth to push a political agenda,” Ashcroft said in a statement in response. “I will always fight for the right of Missourians to have clear, understandable ballot language when they vote on such an important fundamental issue as life.”
READ: Missouri residents to decide in November on ‘abortion throughout any stage of the pregnancy’
Walker ruled in favor of Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, and criticized this language in his ruling, writing, “Intentionally or not, the secretary’s language sows voter confusion about the effects of the measure.” He also rewrote the summary, which now utilizes euphemisms favoring the abortion industry, such as “reproductive health care,” and refers to the government’s attempt to protect human life as “governmental interference” (emphases added):
“A ‘yes’ vote establishes a constitutional right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, with any governmental interference of that right presumed invalid; removes Missouri’s ban on abortion; allows regulation of reproductive health care to improve of maintain the health of the patient; requires the government not to discriminate, in government programs, funding, and other activities, against persons providing or obtaining reproductive health care; and allows abortion to be restricted or banned after fetal viability except to protect the life or health of the woman.”
Ashcroft spokesperson JoDonn Chaney told the Kansas City Star that Ashcroft’s office is reviewing the ruling and may appeal, saying, “Secretary Ashcroft will always stand for life and for the people of Missouri to know the truth.”
