overturning landmark rulings on abortion rights could end most legal abortions in Missouri.
At issue is a case out of Mississippi that the Supreme Court Politico reported Monday on a draft opinion, which said it has the support of the majority of justices, that would overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. In effect, it would leave the legality of abortion up to individual states.
and Gov. Mike Parson signed in 2019 would ban abortions in the state with the exception of medical emergencies if Roe and Casey are overturned. There would be no exceptions for rape or incest. The law in question is currently
鈥淚f this draft is accurate, Missouri will be an abortion free state!鈥� , who championed the legislation that went to Parson鈥檚 desk on the last day of the 2019 session.
In a statement released late Monday evening, Yamelsie Rodr铆guez, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, said while the leaked opinion is "just a draft, it previews what we鈥檝e long been preparing for 鈥� the day Roe v. Wade is overturned and the legal right to abortion comes to an end in this country."
"We knew this opinion was coming and while it鈥檚 not official, it brings us one step closer to an impending public health crisis," Rodr铆guez said. "For now, patients seeking abortion care in Missouri and Illinois, can and should continue to show up for your appointments 鈥� abortion remains legal today. No matter what, with our partners, we will fight for what little is left of abortion access in Missouri and push forward to expand in Illinois where abortion access is protected beyond Roe.鈥�
Reaction to Politico鈥檚 report was swift from both political parties.
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, suggested that the leaking of the draft, which Politico noted wasn鈥檛 necessarily the final decision, . In another , he called the draft by Justice Samuel Alito 鈥渁 heck of an opinion. Voluminously researched, tightly argued, and morally powerful.鈥�
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, a Democrat, said in a statement that the potential decision 鈥渇irst they come for our bodies 鈥� then they come for voting rights, civil rights, LGBTQ rights.鈥�
鈥淚f there was ever a time to hit the alarm and break the glass, this is it. Congress must take action to protect abortion rights and keep these bans off of our bodies,鈥� Jones said.
Impact on U.S. Senate contest
For decades, Missouri voters, especially in rural areas, have sent state legislators of both parties to Jefferson City who voted to curb abortion rights. But the leading Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate said a near total ban on abortion, even in the cases of rape and incest, could be too far for some voters.
Democrat Lucas Kunce said in a statement: 鈥淚t is fundamentally necessary that the U.S. Congress codify Roe v. Wade immediately. If they won鈥檛, we need to replace them.鈥�
One of Kunce鈥檚 Democratic rivals, Trudy Busch Valentine, said in a statement that it鈥檚 鈥渉eartbreaking that the Supreme Court is now on the brink of repealing it.鈥�
鈥淲e need to codify Roe at the federal level immediately,鈥� Valentine wrote.
Spencer Toder : 鈥淚 started to put up a video about how if you voted for me I would codify Roe. I will, but for now, let's focus on what matters. I'll personally match the next $500 donated to.鈥�
But actually codifying the right to an abortion in federal law likely has only a slim chance of passing the Senate, which is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. It would probably require eliminating the filibuster, which Kunce alluded to in a follow-up tweet.
鈥淕et rid of the filibuster and protect Americans' right to an abortion. Not ready? Get the hell out of the way,鈥� Kunce wrote.
All of the major Republican candidates oppose abortion rights.
Senate candidate and U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, echoed Hawley in criticizing the decision to leak the draft, calling the move 鈥渙utrageous and dangerous.鈥� Politico did not say who turned over the document.
鈥淚 pray and remain hopeful [the U.S. Supreme Court] stays true to this potential decision, but this unprecedented, intentional leak is malicious and threatens the independence of our highest court,鈥� Hartzler
Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, who's now running for U.S. Senate, also criticized the leak of the draft, stating in a statement that the person who sent the document to Politico is "trying to weaponize the court and turn the sacred institution into a political cudgel during the midterm elections."
"Life is precious and worthy of protection 鈥� especially the unborn who are the most vulnerable," said Greitens, abortion when he was governor.
U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, said in a statement that when Roe v. Wade was decided, 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 understand abortion then, and I don鈥檛 understand it now.鈥�
鈥淚 am optimistic that these reports are true, and that the Supreme Court will do the right thing, finally overturning this travesty of a decision,鈥� Long said.
Attorney General Eric Schmitt, also a candidate in the Republican Senate primary, tweeted: 鈥淚鈥檝e argued it in court briefings鈥verturn Roe v Wade.鈥�
Politico鈥檚 article said that the decision in the Mississippi abortion case may not be issued for two months. Missouri鈥檚 U.S. Senate primary is slated for Aug. 2.
