Abortion Ban Task Force meeting update

Greetings from the Missouri State Capitol! Less than one week into the 2008 Missouri Legislative Session and, as the lobbyist for Planned Parenthood affiliates in Missouri, I can tell you things are heating up. Let’s take today (1/15) for example, from 12-2, I suffered through a meeting of Governor Blunt's sham of a Task Force on the Impact of Abortion on Women where anti-choice ideologues spouted the most puzzling and outrageous things regarding abortion. None of Blunt's Task Force members have a day’s experience providing safe, medically reputable contraceptive, sex education or abortion care - nor have they asked anyone who has that experience to testify before them!

The award for the most hypocritical statement of the day goes to a Task Force member who is a lobbyist promoting abstinence-only sex education which withholds life-saving information from teens. He surprised me with this statement:

"Since when do we, as a culture, value a lack of information."

Good thing he wasn't looking at a mirror when saying that one.

They spent a lot of time reviewing medically inaccurate doozies presented in previous meetings and brainstorming ideas that show they have no idea about current counseling or reporting practices and requirements.

To give you a virtual front-row seat in the Missouri Legislature, I’ll be posting periodically throughout the session. To get a real front-row seat, come join me in Jefferson City and I’ll show you around. Just contact your local Planned Parenthood Organizer.

'Til Later, Michelle Trupiano, MSW,
Planned Parenthood affiliates in Missouri Lobbyist