Extreme Politicians Override Veto of Bill Forcing Women to Further Delay Abortions

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – In direct opposition to the will of Missouri voters, the state legislature overrode Governor Jay Nixon’s veto of a bill that will force a woman who has already met with her health care professional and decided to have an abortion to delay getting the medical care she needs for at least 3 days. In May, women and men gathered in front of the capitol for 72 hours to protest the bill.

Polling released by the ACLU shows that:

· 8 in 10 voters have serious concerns with this legislation.

· Missourians support the governor’s veto.

· 7 in 10 Missouri voters believe the state legislature should focus on economic issues instead of attempting to override this bill.

“Today’s vote is just another example of our elected officials playing politics with the lives of women and their families,” said Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. “Missourians have made it clear: they’ve had enough of extreme politicians interfering in personal, private medical decisions, and they don’t support this law.”

A woman who decides to have an abortion has already carefully considered her decision. Laws that force a woman to delay getting the care she needs require women to make an extra trip to the state’s only clinic which is especially burdensome for low-income women and rural women, who often can’t take extra days off work or travel long distances.

This law makes Missouri one of only two states with such an extreme forced delay.