Governor's Column - March 17, 2006

Respecting the Sanctity of Human Life

Last year we passed good pro-life legislation that reflects the values of
Missourians, respects the sanctity of human life and will help reduce the
number of abortions that occur in our state.

Senate Bill 1, passed during special session last year, strengthens
Missouri's parental consent law so that parents are involved in and aware of their children's decisions regarding abortion. It also enacts important safety standards, requiring physicians who perform abortions to have hospital privileges within 30 miles of the clinic where they perform the procedure.

The bill also has good language to ensure next friends, those who have the authority to provide consent for abortions for minors, cannot be another minor or someone who would financially benefit from the abortion.

More must be done this year to strengthen and reflect Missouri's pro-life
values.

We need to enact legislation that provides conscience protection for
pharmaceutical professionals. The legislation would not outlaw any
prescriptions but would clarify that pharmacists cannot be forced to fill
prescriptions that violate their moral and ethical views. Missouri's
pharmacists should not fear unwarranted discrimination for adhering to their conscience by respecting the sanctity of human life.

I believe students should be learning information about sex education from their teachers, parents and physicians, and not organizations that support or could profit from abortions. I support legislation that prohibits abortion providers from supplying Missouri's public school students with information about sexual health and from presenting sex education programs to our children.

Pregnancy resource centers and crisis pregnancy centers all across our state deserve to be highlighted for their great merits. They are offering support, love and an opportunity to choose life for women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy. To support these facilities I support tax credits for individuals and businesses that make donations to these centers.

We were able to come together in a matter of days last year and pass good pro-life legislation, which I hope is indicative of what we can accomplish in the future to respect the sanctity of human life. I believe we have a moral obligation to protect the rights of the most vulnerable members of society.

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