Rupp: Missouri Will Continue to Reject Taxpayer-Funded Abortions

In an unprecedented move, the federal government has passed health care legislation that will find a way to intrude into your life. For Missourians, unless something changes, this legislation ultimately means higher taxes and health care costs, less freedom when it comes to your health care, and federal subsidies going to pay for abortions and programs like Planned Parenthood.

I will not sit back quietly while this happens. I had hoped, like many of you, that this unpopular bill would have been stopped before it got to this point. Now that it is a reality, I will continue to stand up for the rights of the people of Missouri.

The day after the health care bill passed Congress, and before the president even got a chance to sign it, I testified on behalf of my legislation, Senate Bill 747, which prohibits any health insurance exchanges in Missouri, including federally-mandated insurance, from allowing abortions using taxpayer dollars. The bill, which was passed out of committee and will now be placed on the calendar for full debate, is endorsed by pro-life contingencies from across the state.

I see this as the most important legislation on my docket right now, and I will do what I can to ensure its speedy approval from my colleagues. There have been assurances and even an executive order that federal money could not be used for abortions. However, the Supreme Court has ruled in other instances that an executive order does not trump the law, and thus there is no way to block your tax dollars from funding abortions in the legislation passed Sunday night in Washington, unless Missouri enacts the legislation I am sending to the floor of the Senate for debate.

There are also concerns within the federal health care plan of the powers and authority given to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It could be read that the HHS could provide direct appropriations to agencies that provide abortions, thus circumventing any other directives not to do so. My bill will protect Missouri’s desire to remain opposed to taxpayer-funded abortions.

It is constantly stated that the federal health care plan is historic, and it is, because never in our history has there been such a blatant disregard of the sovereignty of the states and the will of the American people. This fight is far from over, and I will do my part to make sure Missourian’s concerns will be heard.

NEW QUESTION OF THE WEEK

A new question is posted on my website which ask:

In response to the recent federal health care legislation passed by Congress, the Missouri Senate is considering SJR 25 – the Missouri Health Care Freedom Act, a constitutional amendment that would state that no federal law shall compel an individual or employer to participate in any government or privately run health care system. Do you support or oppose this constitutional amendment that would allow each individual Missourian to choose for themselves the type of health care plan they want to participate in?

1. Support
2. Oppose

If you’d like to respond, please go to my web page at: http://www.senate.mo.gov/10info/members/mem02.htm and click on “Question of the Week” in the upper right hand corner.

PREVIOUS QUESTION RESULTS

The current economic situation will bring about severe reductions in our state’s budget in order for the legislature to pass the balanced budget that the Missouri Constitution requires.

In your opinion, which of these actions seems the most reasonable to begin with?

1. Reduce K-12 Education Spending – 6%
2. Reduce Higher Education Spending – 22%
3. Reduce Medicaid/Welfare Expenditures – 37%
4. Reduce tax credits for economic development & job creation – 14%
5. Provide for an earlier release of non-violent prison offenders in order to reduce corrections/prison expenditures – 20%

And which of these would you NOT want to see happen?

1. Reduce K-12 Education Spending – 43%
2. Reduce Higher Education Spending – 11%
3. Reduce Medicaid/Welfare Expenditures – 12%
4. Reduce tax credits for economic development & job creation – 13%
5. Provide for an earlier release of non-violent prison offenders in order to reduce corrections/prison expenditures – 20%

As the 2010 legislative session unfolds, I will continue to keep you, my constituents, apprised of all major developments, and I look forward to continuing to serve your needs and priorities in Jefferson City. As always, if you have any questions about this week’s column or any other matter involving state government, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can reach my office by phone at (866) 271-2844.