by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
In one of only a handful of good news stories to emerge in last night's election results, Missouri voters approved a state constitutional amendment that overturned the extreme abortion ban that had been imposed on the "show-me" state by it's right-wing GOP legislature. The measure which passed with 53% of the vote will add language to the state constitution guaranteeing "a fundamental right to reproductive freedom." The amendment also says that any government interference in reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, is invalid. It is set to take effect in thirty days.
Opponents of the freshly passed measure are vowing to fight it tooth-and-nail in the courts and to push an effort in the legislature to ask Missourians to vote on the amendment again. They appear to favor the process of democracy only when it goes their way.
Pro-reproductive rights measures also passed in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, and Montana - and failed in Florida (which required a super-majority of 60%), South Dakota, and Nebraska.
Certain Republican politicians had spoken publicly during the campaign season saying that decisions related to abortion were best left with the states. It will be interesting to see if they maintain that air of neutrality now that the election is over.
Missouri took a gigantic step forward yesterday in re-establishing a woman's right to control her own body and health care decisions. Now, fellow Missourians, let's fight like hell to preserve that win!
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