Clancy and Dunaway proposed to use federal American Rescue Plan Act money to pay for transportation, child care and other logistical help for women seeking abortions outside Missouri as well as help address infant nutrition needs amid the nationwide formula shortage.
The St. Louis County Council has rejected a pro-abortion measure to spend $1.25 million in taxpayer funds to kill babies in abortions.
Councilwomen Lisa Clancy and Kelli Dunaway, both Democrats, proposed a measure to misuse COVID funds to pay for women to travel to other states to have abortions. Missouri is one of a dozen states that have an abortion ban in place to protect women and children from abortions.
But, as a local news report indicates, the vote “failed by a vote of 4-3 when one of the council’s four Democrats joined with three Republicans, who warned the measure would invite a legal challenge from Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt.”
Council Republicans, all abortion opponents, said the infant formula assistance should have been a separate proposal, which they could have supported.
“I can certainly support the infant formula piece. I cannot support the rest,” said Councilman Tim Fitch, R-3rd District.
ACTION ALERT: Contact members of the council here.
In addition to Fitch, Council members who opposed the measure were Ernie Trakas, R-6th District; Mark Harder, R-7th District; and Shalonda Webb, D-4th District.
Clancy, Dunaway and Council Chair Rita Days, D-1st District, voted for the measure.
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, abortion activists nationwide are desperately attempting to force taxpayers to fund abortions out of state, especially in pro-life locations like Missouri.
As LifeNews reported, the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, with a 6-3 majority ruling in the Dobbs case that “The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion” — allowing states to ban abortions and protect unborn babies. The high court also ruled 6-3 uphold the Mississippi 15-week abortion ban so states can further limit abortions and to get rid of the false viability standard.
Chief Justice John Roberts technically voted for the judgment but, in his concurring opinion, disagreed with the reasoning and said he wanted to keep abortions legal but with a new standard.
Texas and Oklahoma had banned abortions before Roe was overturned and Missouri became the first state after Roe to protect babies from abortions and South Dakota became the 2nd. Then Arkansas became the third state protecting babies from abortions and Kentucky became the 4th and Louisiana became the 5th and Ohio became the 6th and Utah became the 7th and Oklahoma became the 8th and Alabama became the 9th. This week, Mississippi became the 10th and South Carolina became the 11th,Texas became the 12th with its pre-Roe law and Tennessee became the 13th.
Michigan, Wisconsin and West Virginia have old pro-life laws on the books but there is question about whether they are applicable and will be enforced.
Ultimately, as many as 26 states could immediately or quickly ban abortions and protect babies from certain death for the first time in nearly 50 years.
The 13 total states with trigger laws that would effectively ban all or most abortions are: Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
“Abortion presents a profound moral question. The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each State from regulating or prohibiting abortion. Roe and Casey arrogated that authority. We now overrule those decisions and return that authority to the people and their elected representatives,” Alito wrote.
“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences,” Alito wrote. “And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.”
This is a landmark day for the Pro-Life movement and our entire nation. After staining the moral fabric of our country for nearly 50 years, Roe v. Wade is no more.
Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Stephen Breyer authored a joint dissent condemning the decision as enabling states to enact “draconian” restrictions on women.
Polls show Americans are pro-life on abortion and a new national poll shows 75% of Americans essentially agree with the Supreme Court overturning Roe.
ACTION ALERT: Contact members of the council here.
