Show-Me Abortion Money Fight Amid Republican Pro-Choice Fear

Something to consider . . .

Missouri Republican leaders are ON RECORD saying that they're afraid a statewide vote would ENSHRINE abortion rights in the state's constitution.

And so this power move hopes to delay an upcoming election year battle that would flip red state control on the issue.

Check the deets . . .

The attorney general’s office contends it was simply exercising its authority under state law when it refused to sign off on a fiscal note summary crafted by the auditor that said the abortion-rights initiative petition would have no cost to state or local government.

“It is far from clearly established that the attorney was required to simply rubber stamp the auditor’s fiscal note summary,” said Jason Lewis, chief counsel for the attorney general.

At the heart of Wednesday’s arguments in Cole County Circuit Court are 11 initiative petitions filed with the secretary of state’s office in March seeking to roll back Missouri’s abortion ban by enshrining reproductive rights in the state constitution.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Judge hears arguments over Missouri AG push to inflate cost of abortion initiative petition * Missouri Independent

Attorney General Andrew Bailey's attempt to increase the cost of an abortion-rights initiative petition was unprecedented and illegal, lawyers for the Missouri ACLU and state auditor's office argued Wednesday in Cole County Court. " No attorney general has ever attempted to exercise this level of discretion," said Robert Tillman, deputy general counsel for Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick.

Judge weighs Missouri GOP dispute over estimated cost of allowing abortions

Two top Republican state officials argued Wednesday over how much it would cost Missouri to restore the right to abortion, with the state attorney general insisting that the figure should account for lost revenue that wouldn't be collected from people who otherwise would be born.The issue came up during a trial over a proposed ballot measure that would let voters decide in 2024 whether to amend the state constitution to guarantee abortion rights.Abortions were almost completely banned in Missouri following the U.S.

Developing . . .