Abortion Foes Prepare To Fight FOCA

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

Thousands converged on the nation's capitol Thursday to mark the 36th anniversary of Roe versus Wade. But anti-abortion supporters are already looking ahead toward what could be their first big legislative battle.

Much has been made of President Obama's reversal of an executive order that banned abortion funding for non-governmental groups working outside the U.S. But abortion opponents already have their sights set on another piece of legislation, called FOCA. That's short for Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA).

First introduced in 2007, FOCA is meant to protect a woman's right to begin, prevent or continue a pregnancy. Anti-abortion groups are worried about it because President Obama has said he would sign the bill into law.

What would FOCA mean locally? Click HERE for the full story.

For more on the Catholic church's position on FOCA, click HERE.

For more on Planned Parenthood's position, click HERE.

Donnelly Gets Health & Senior Services Post

4 TO GOFormer State Representative and Democratic candidate for Attorney General Margaret Donnelly is Governor-elect Jay Nixon's pick to direct the Department of Health & Senior Services.

"With her many years of experience as a social worker, an attorney and a state legislator, Margaret understands the key role the Department of Health and Senior Services plays in the lives of all Missourians," said Nixon in a statement.

In the position, Donnelly will oversee programs and divisions, including public and community health, senior and disability services, vital records and emergency preparedness.

ANTI-ABORTION GROUP ANNOUNCES OPPOSITION:

Donnelly will have conflicts of interest if state reverses course and funnels tax dollars to pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood," claims Ed Martin of Missourians United For Life.

"Governor-elect Jay Nixon today has picked as his health and senior services director a public official who has regularly received the endorsement and support of the abortion provider Planned Parenthood who has regularly sued the state to gain access to state tax dollars," said Martin in a statement e-mailed to The Notebook. "Nixon's own record of support for and by Planned Parenthood is well-documented but his appointment leaves Missourians wondering who will protect the state treasury when Planned Parenthood seeks money from it."

ALSO: STATE GOP RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT MARTINEZ ON IMMIGRATION
"When the federal government failed to enact a comprehensive immigration policy, a local municipality did something. Linda Martinez led the effort to overturn their effort to crack down on illegal immigrants arguing, "This is bad law and mean-spirited public policy," said G.O.P. spokeswoman Tina Hervey. "If Nixon’s choice to head DED views anti-illegal immigration laws as ‘mean-spirited’, what message is he sending to Missourians?”, added Hervey. "By selecting Martinez, it is clear that Nixon does not plan on continuing the strong policies enacted by Governor Blunt to curb illegal immigration activity in Missouri, and that’s a shame."

MEANWHILE, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY, SPEAKER RON RICHARD CALLED MARTINEZ "A GREAT START" TO BOLSTERING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

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4 NIXON CABINET APPOINTMENTS REMAIN: Director of Agriculture, Director of Insurance, Director of Natural Resources, Director of Public Safety

In an interview with KY3 News Wednesday in Jefferson City, Nixon said he would fill out his cabinet as early as this week or as late as next week.

Planned Parenthood Plans Debate Demonstration

Members of Southwest Missouri's chapter of Planned Parenthood are planning a demonstration across from KY3 studios before the Republican primary debate for Governor tonight.

Supporters of Planned Parenthood will be stationed across the street on 999 West Sunshine between 6-7:30 p.m.

"The campaigns have offered very limited details about their healthcare agenda," said Kellie Freeman Rohrbaugh, the director of public affairs, in a release. "We hear the candidates talk about prevention and we want to know more," she added.

Some of the questions Planned Parenthood want Kenny Hulshof and Sarah Steelman to answer include:

• What would they do to address the need for breast and cervical cancer screening among low-income women?
• Do you support getting information to the families of young women about the HPV vaccine which can prevent many forms of cervical cancer?
• Will you help young Missourians get medically accurate sex education that includes information about abstinence?
• Do you believe Missourians have the right to have their prescriptions filled by pharmacists without judgment or delay?
• Do you support women's access to affordable birth control and would you work toward a solution with Missouri's Congressional Delegation?

The Hulshof-Steelman debate airs live on KY3 tonight at 8 p.m.

Planned Parenthood to Offer Cheaper Exams

MOVE IN RESPONSE TO BLUNT'S CUTS

Planned Parenthood of Southwest Missouri said it is offering low-income and uninsured women breast exams at a reduced cost, in response to Governor Matt Blunt's cuts to their program.

The program will cover women 30 and over with an income level 151% of the poverty level or greater. Uninsured and underinsured women are also encouraged to apply.

"For 19 years, Planned Parenthood was an exemplary participant in the Show Me Healthy Women Program—that was until the Governor without cause cut Planned Parenthood as a provider in this program nearly a year ago," said Kellie Rohrbaugh in a release Monday.

“Planned Parenthood has created this program to meet the need of this underserved population—typically working women without insurance," she added.

Rohrbaugh said the Blunt administration's invitation to reapply to the program was disingenuous, because Rohrbaugh said they are only accepting new providers at this time.

"The invitation and response were disingenuous, and don’t match with the Governor’s continued statement that services and funding are expanding for cancer screening for women,” said Rohrbaugh. “Planned Parenthood can’t stand by and let women go without services because the Governor is willing to use women’s health as a political tool.”

"Extreme and Unconstitutional"

PLANNED PARENTHOOD VOWS FIGHT ON ABORTION INITIATIVE

Planned Parenthood in Missouri is calling an initiative petition that would prohibit abortion, "extreme, dangerous, and clearly unconstitutional."

State officials gave the go-ahead Friday for an initiative petition that would prohibit abortion, except when the procedure is necessary to prevent the woman’s death or serious injury.

Mary Hickey of St. Louis has filed a legal challenge that Planned Parenthood is supporting.

"Planned Parenthood opposes the proposed ballot initiative because it would ball all abortion s unless the doctor certifies it is needed to prevent death or severe medical risks," said Kellie Rohrbaugh of the Southwest Missouri chapter of Planned Parenthood.

"This initiative allows the Government to interfere with private health care decisions made between a patient and her doctor. It also invites law suits against doctors, family members or others who help a woman get abortion care," she added. "To be clear: this proposed initiative would make abortion in Missouri illegal except in the extremely narrow cases of imminent death or serious health risks. This is unmistakably the goal of the initiative sponsors."

You can read the full ballot initiative HERE.

The Abortion Wars: "No Coincidence These Things Are Going On At The Same Time"

Planned Parenthood Missouri called on Governor Matt Blunt to disband his abortion task force and oppose a proposed initiative that could ban most abortions in the state.

Blunt's abortion task force was set to meet for the fourth time today.

“The Governor has set up a task force to ban abortion and now there’s a proposed ballot initiative with the same goal, commonsense Missouri voters seeking real solutions to reducing the need for abortion are left with nothing,” said Kellie Rohrbaugh, Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood of Southwest Missouri. “Governor Blunt should work with Planned Parenthood to find common ground to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies in Missouri instead he is using abortion as a political tool.”

Rohrbaugh says all of the task force members are "anti-choice" and that no "differing views" have been included.

Meanwhile, The Elliot Institute, an anti-abortion organization based in Illinois, has submitted
proposed ballot initiative language to the Secretary of State’s office that would make all abortions illegal unless the doctor certifies it is needed to prevent imminent death or severe medical risks.

“The Governor’s Task Force is a component of the ballot initiative to ban abortions campaign,” said Rohrbaugh. “It’s not a coincidence that both of these things are going on at the same time. This Task Force is a complete sham and should be disbanded immediately.”

Rock For Choice at Patton Alley Tonight

Planned Parenthood of Southwest Missouri is holding a "Rock for Choice" concert tonight at Patton Alley Pub in downtown Springfield, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

A press release says the concert will "promote access to basic, quality, affordable health care and information for women, men, and teens in our community."

Local bands performing will include Blue Collar Honeymoon, Jesse James Wax Museum, Truett and the Traitors, Faatherton, and The Dirty Blondes.

The concert is scheduled to run from 5:30-11 p.m. on 313 S. Patton Ave.