03-04-2025
Missouri lawmakers still challenging two voter-approved laws
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Some people are saying the will of the people or the vote of the people isn't being followed in Missouri.
'From the time that we decided to move forward with the ballot initiative, through the implementation of Amendment 3, every single piece has been met with some sort of dramatic barrier,' Emily Wales, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, says.
'And now, we are in the fourth month of implementation, and we are still fighting with the attorney general about what 'strict scrutiny' means, about whether or not Missourians should have access to medication abortion, which is the most common type of abortion access in the United States.'
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Wales says that Missouri voters were clear on what they wanted.
'And still, we are fighting out every single piece of this conversation about abortion access.'
Procedural abortion access has been restored, but medication abortion is still not allowed.
'Kansas City was the first to restore access. We started the day after we got an injunction in February. We were able to restore access in Columbia in March. St. Louis had its first day of procedural care just last week,' Wales shared.
'What we want is for patients to make that choice. Not for the State of Missouri. Not for politicians to make that choice, and right now, it's not up to Missourians and it's not up to the medical providers who offer care. Currently, it is in the state's hands because they have provided so many barriers and roadblocks.'
Wales says there's no answer for what's happening beyond politics.
'It's about undermining the will of the people. It's about believing that politicians know better than Missourians and we are seeing that reflected in the legislature as well. Missourians have a constitutional right right now in this state that they cannot realize in large numbers because of politics. That never should have happened. It is happening not only in this context, but we are seeing this play out for sick leave. We are seeing the legislature make plans to undermine Amendment 3 or directly contradict and send something else back to the voters.'
Tuesday, a Missouri judge ruled that Platte County Commissioners will not have to implement a child services tax, even though voters approved it.
In December, county commissioners referred to the way state law is worded in their decision not to implement the tax.
'I understand the frustration from the people that worked hard to get the signatures (and) to get the measure on the ballot,' Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker of Platte County says.
'The state statute says that, once the ballot measure is approved, the commission 'may' authorize the tax,' Presiding Platte County Commissioner Scott Fricker said.
'The case is very simple.'
This is in regards to the Platte County Child Services tax; an incentive to help child mental health services.
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Fricker says enough money from the taxpayers is already going to mental health services.
'Platte County didn't need another six million dollars of mental health money. The commission, made up of myself and two others, were unanimous in our view, that the Platte County taxpayers are already spending enough in mental health in Platte County,' Fricker shared.
'Very few people will benefit from six million dollars every year. It's too much money.'
Fricker says three million is already spent yearly for mental health services in Platte County.
'There is absolutely no correlation between more tax dollars and improved mental health; that's a connection that they were never able to make. They didn't even try to negotiate with us. They knew that we were not in favor of a tax without a sunset,' he added.
'They should have known because they knew all along that we didn't support this.'
FOX4 reached out to a party in favor of the tax, they declined to comment on the story.
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