Abortion bills largely avoided in 2006 session

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Although abortion opponents hold both the Legislature and Gov.'s Mansion, anti-abortion groups struggled for the second straight year to move their legislative agenda. When lawmakers concluded the annual session last week, only one of Gov. Matt Blunt's three "meaningful pro-life" proposals had survived. Lawmakers did pass a bill awarding tax credits to those who donate to pregnancy centers that don't provide abortions. And they increased state funding for centers that promote abortion alternatives. But proposals to restrict who can teach sex education and to allow pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception failed, as did several other anti-abortion measures with much lower profiles. Missouri Right to Life praised the new tax credit but said it was disappointed more hadn't been done.

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