Missouri Dems turn to Illinois, Kansas for abortion help

COLUMBIA, Mo. — A high Democratic state lawmaker from Republican-led Missouri on Wednesday wrote to the Democratic Illinois and Kansas governors asking for assist paying for abortions for out-of-state Medicaid sufferers.

Missouri Home Democratic Minority Chief Crystal Quade known as on Illinois and Kansas to use for Medicaid waivers to cowl abortions for out-of-state sufferers.

Her request got here after Democratic President Joe Biden signed an government order Wednesday aimed partially at making it simpler for ladies searching for abortions to journey between states to acquire entry to the process.

The directives will permit states that haven’t outlawed abortion to use for Medicaid waivers that may assist them deal with ladies who’ve traveled from out of state.

The waivers solely apply in circumstances of rape, incest and medical emergencies.

“Although these exceptions are slim, we consider that this government order continues to be significant for Missouri sufferers who’re experiencing a life-threatening healthcare scenario or whose being pregnant was pressured by the violence of rape or incest,” Quade wrote in a letter to Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas legislative leaders.

Spokespeople for Kelly and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker didn’t instantly reply to Related Press requests for touch upon the federal waiver and Quade’s request.

Kansas has but to increase its Medicaid program in keeping with the federal Reasonably priced Care Act due to the sturdy opposition of Republican leaders to former Democratic President Barack Obama’s signature home coverage. As a result of Kansas doesn’t permit residents to provoke poll questions, that call has stood, although many lawmakers and advocates contend it’s broadly unpopular.

Crossing state strains to get abortions has grow to be an rising situation because the Supreme Courtroom overturned Roe v. Wade and opened the door for brand new restrictions on abortion on the state degree.

The Nationwide Abortion Federation stated Wednesday that it’s seen extra ladies asking for assist touring to get the process within the month after the choice. The group paid for 76 lodge rooms and booked 52 bus or airplane journeys, up from solely a handful in the identical time interval final yr.

Missouri outlawed abortion minutes after the U.S. Supreme Courtroom overturned Roe v. Wade in June. The one exception is to save lots of the lifetime of the mom.

Abortion is authorized in neighboring Illinois in addition to Kansas, the place voters on Tuesday opted to maintain the proper to abortions enshrined within the state’s Structure. Kansas voters rejected a poll measure that may have allowed the Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten abortion restrictions or ban the process outright.

Missouri Democrats have sought to reap the benefits of abortion entry simply throughout state strains.

St. Louis’ Democratic Mayor Tishaura Jones final month signed a measure offering $1 million for journey to abortion clinics in different states, prompting Republican Missouri Legal professional Basic Eric Schmitt to sue.