Administrative Hearing Commission Declines to Protect the Health and Safety of Missouri Women
Today, in a 97-page decision, Administrative Hearing Commissioner Sreenivasa Rao Dandamudi said Planned Parenthood demonstrated that it meets the requirements for renewal of its abortion facility license in St. Louis.
 
“In a challenging time when we are all concerned about protecting the health and safety of our families, friends, co-workers and communities, a single commissioner makes a ruling to allow the killing of innocent little lives by an uncaring abortion industry business,” said Susan Klein, Executive Director of Missouri Right to Life. “Apparently protecting the health and safety of women and unborn children is not a priority for him or them.”
 
Klein continued, “Missouri Right to Life will be reviewing the details of this decision in the coming week, but given what we know about the State’s strong case against Planned Parenthood, St Louis, we call upon our Attorney General to challenge this injustice.”
MISSOURI RIGHT TO LIFE OPPOSES MEDICAID EXPANSION FOR PRO-LIFE REASONS
Through the Initiative Petition process, groups can collect signatures on a particular issue, submit them to the Secretary of State’s office for certification based on set guideline/requirements and once signatures are certified, the language is placed on the ballot for Missourians to vote on. Groups supporting Medicaid Expansion have done so. 

Secretary of State, Jay Ashcroft, has to follow the law in processing all Initiative Petition signatures presented to the Secretary of State’s office. The Governor, in this case, can determine which election (August or November) Missourians will vote on Medicaid Expansion. 

Governor Parson has called the election for consideration of Medicaid Expansion to appear on the August 4 ballot. See Governor Parson’s and House Budget Chair, Rep. Cody Smith’s comments and concerns here:
 
 
Missouri Right to Life’s Pro-Life Concerns:
 
Initiative 2020-063 would add a new section to the Missouri State Constitution, known as Article IV, Section 36(c) (the “proposed Amendment”). A copy of the proposed Amendment is appended as the last page of this article. There are six subsections of the proposed Amendment, of which two are of primary concern to pro-life citizens.

Subsection 1 is designed to increase the roll of persons entitled to Medicaid for their health coverage. Such maximization would enlarge the pool of persons who could obtain the abortion services that are allowed under Medicaid, especially if the Hyde Amendment were to be terminated, as many politicians are now demanding.

Subsection 4 would require the State to maximize the federal share of Medicaid expenditures in Missouri, which would negate efforts to create pro-life health programs with the State's own money.

This paper provides a summary of concerns raised by the proposed Amendment that all Missourians should carefully consider. Continue reading a complete list of Six Major Pro-Life Concerns here:
 
ON AUGUST 4, 2020 – VOTE “NO” ON MEDICAID EXPANSION,
PROTECT INNOCENT HUMAN LIVES
Life Links
Planned Parenthood Testimony On Selling Baby Parts Unsealed, New Videos Released

Link - Planned Parenthood Officials Testified Under Oath About Financial Incentives in Fetal Tissue Research Programs in Abortion Giant’s Own Lawsuit.
ACLU files suit to eliminate FDA restrictions on abortion-inducing drugs intended to protect women

Link - On the never-allow-a-crisis-to-go-to-waste front, the ACLU has filed a new suit challenging the protections the FDA has maintained for the use of chemical (“medication”) abortions.
During the pandemic, “Hercules” to the rescue of pregnant women

Link - The star of “Hercules” is coming to the rescue of pregnant women at the epicenter of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Teacher cares for newborn while baby’s family recovers from COVID-19

Link - Mom gave birth while in a medically induced coma.
UN Expert Group: “Sexual and Reproductive Health Services” Includes “Safe, Legal Abortion”

Link - A UN human rights group criticized several U.S. states for declaring abortion a nonessential service during the COVID-19 shutdown this week, declaring “safe, legal abortion” a key component of “sexual and reproductive health services.”
England will now ‘presume consent’ to harvest organs of those declared dead

Link - Pro-life leader Anthony McCarthy says that 'presumed consent' means that, in effect, the State owns your body after death.
Pro-Life Around the State
The Western Region Golf Tournament has been postponed due to the Coronavirus. No date has been set at this time. Please watch for a new date.
Call to Prayer: Walking with Moms in Need - The “Call to Prayer” is the first phase of the Walking with Moms initiative in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Please join us in prayer at 3 p.m. each day for pregnant and parenting mothers! Click here for more details.

May 30 - Granite City, IL - Join Defenders of the Unborn at Hope Clinic (a/k/a Hopeless Clinic) at 1602 21st Street, Granite City, IL 62040 for our first JERICHO WALK in Illinois. Missouri babies are dying here, we are needed here. This ecumenical prayer service will begin at 10 am. We will maintain social distancing and it will take less than 45 minutes.

July 11 - Jefferson City - Pregnancy Help Center 5K Walk/Run, 8:30 am in Memorial Park.

July 24 - St. Louis - Missouri Right to Life "FORE Life" Golf Tournament. Lunch/Registration - 11:00 a.m. with a 12:30 p.m. Shotgun Start. Click here to register.

September 12 - Jefferson City - Missouri Right to Life Statewide Leadership Meeting. Details coming soon.

MRL Eastern Region has copies of Abby Johnson’s presentation at the 43rd Annual Respect Life Convention, October 13, in St. Louis. They also have copies of the movies Gosnell and Unplanned. If anyone would like to arrange a showing in their chapter or church group, please contact [email protected].