Missouri Senate Rejects Rape, Incest Exceptions to Abortion Ban

In a contentious debate, Missouri Senate Republicans voted against amendments to allow abortions in cases of rape and incest, maintaining the state's near-total abortion ban.

Missouri Senate Republicans rejected amendments proposed by Democratic Sen. Tracy McCreery to include exceptions for rape and incest in the state's near-total abortion ban.
The rejection underscores a significant dynamic within Missouri politics, reflecting the staunch anti-abortion views of many GOP lawmakers despite a campaign to overturn the ban.
Republican arguments against the exceptions included claims that forced birth could be 'the greatest healing agent' and that 'God doesn't make mistakes,' even in cases of rape.
Planned Parenthood's funding is also under threat, with a bill debated to bar the organization from receiving state Medicaid money, despite it providing non-abortion services.
The debate over abortion rights in Missouri continues, with advocates campaigning to put an abortion rights measure on the ballot this November.