Groups on both sides of the abortion debate are gearing up for nextweek's veto session. That's when Missouri lawmakers will try to override the governor's veto of a bill that would require women seeking abortions to get counseling from a doctor and then wait 24 hours before having the procedure.KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE ST LOUIS REGION AND MISSOURI RIGHT TO LIFE ARE BOTH PROMISING TO BRING IN BUSLOADS OF PEOPLE TO THE STATE CAPITOL NEXT WEDNESDAY.
EACH SIDE IS HOPING TO HAVE ITS SUPPORTERS EN FORCE AS LAWMAKERS CONSIDER OVERRIDING THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF THE ABORTION WAIT PERIOD BILL.
IT TAKES A SUPER MAJORITY OR TWO-THIRDS OF LAWMAKERS IN EACH CHAMBER TO OVERRIDE A VETO.
PATTY SKAIN IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MISSOURI RIGHT TO LIFE, ONE OF THE MAIN GROUPS SUPPORTING THE BILL.
SHE SAYS THE BILL WILL ENSURE WOMEN HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION WHEN THEY'RE CONSIDERING GETTING AN ABORTION.
BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE, ABORTION RIGHTS SUPPORTERS SAY WOMEN ALREADY HAVE ACCESS TO PLENTY OF INFORMATION ABOUT ABORTION AND ALTERNATIVES.
PAULA GIANINO IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE ST LOUIS REGION.
SHE SAYS THE BILL IS UNNECESSARY BECAUSE WOMEN ALREADY HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION BEFORE GETTING AN ABORTION.
OF PARTICULAR CONCERN TO GIANINO IS THAT THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE ALL WOMEN, EVEN WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN RAPED TO WAIT 24 HOURS AFTER A CONSULTATION BEFORE HAVING AN ABORTION.
BUT PATTY SKAIN AND ABORTION OPPONENTS ARGUE RAPE VICTIMS NEED COUNSELING AND TIME TO REFLECT ON THEIR DECISION JUST LIKE ANY OTHER WOMAN SEEKING AN ABORTION.
THERE ARE 3 ABORTION PROVIDERS IN MISSOURI'SO WOMEN OFTEN HAVE TO SPEND SOME TIME TRAVELING TO GET TO AN ABORTION CLINIC.
OPPONENTS OF THE MANDETORY WAIT PERIOD SAY IT WILL FORCE WOMEN TO PAY FOR HOTEL ROOMS SO THEY CAN STAY NEAR THE CLINIC WHILE THE 24 WAIT PERIOD EXPIRES.
PATTY SKAIN SAYS THAT'S NOT A MAJOR CONCERN FOR THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE BILL.
MANY ANTI-ABORTION GROUPS SAY THEY HOPE WOMEN WILL DECIDE NOT TO HAVE AN ABORTION DURING THE 24 HOUR PERIOD THEY MUST WAIT BETWEEN MEDICAL COUNSELING AND HAVING THE PROCEDURE.
BUT PAULA GIANINO SAYS SHE THINKS THE BILL WILL ACTUALLY LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN ABORTIONS IF IT BECOMES LAW.
THE LAST MAJOR SHOWDOWN OVER A VETO CENTERED ON AN ABORTION BILL'IT HAPPENED WHEN THEN-GOVERNOR MEL CARNAHAN VETOED THE BAN ON LATE TERM ABORTIONS.
I'M MISSY SHELTON FOR KSMU NEWS.
