With some GOP leaders in Missouri already plotting ways to overturn an abortion-rights amendment if it passes next month, the Republican set to take over as speaker of the state House says lawmakers should abide by the will of the voters.

State Rep. Jon Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican expected to become House speaker when the legislature returns in January, says he doesn’t support the proposal to enshrine abortion in the constitution, which will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot as Amendment 3.

But if it wins, he said, the legislature should respect the voters’ decision.

“It will be the law of the land,” he said Wednesday evening at a Lee’s Summit Chamber candidate forum. “And we have to go forward as the people decide.”

Regardless of the outcome on Amendment 3, Patterson — who is running for a fourth term against Democrat Kevin Grover — told Wednesday’s crowd that “I don’t think an abortion ban works. I don’t think it’s working for Missouri.”

In an interview with The Independent on Thursday, Patterson clarified he was talking about a “total ban” on abortion. 

“Missourians are telling us they want compromise,” he said.

More: Here’s what to know about Missouri’s abortion ballot question before the election

When the constitutional right to an abortion was overturned in June 2022, Missouri became the first state to enact a trigger law banning the procedure in all cases except for medical emergencies. There are no exceptions for survivors of rape or incest.

In 2019, Patterson voted in favor of the trigger law that would later be used to ban abortion.

Amendment 3 would legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability and protect other forms of reproductive health care, including access to birth control. The amendment would allow the Missouri legislature to regulate abortion after fetal viability — generally seen as the end of the second trimester of pregnancy — with exceptions for “the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.”

State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, a Republican from Arnold, told The Independent last month that if the amendment passes, it will not be the last time Missourians vote on abortion.

Coleman noted that after Missourians passed a citizen-led amendment requiring legislative districts be drawn to ensure partisan fairness in 2018, the legislature placed a repeal amendment on the ballot two years later. It was also approved by Missouri voters.

“This is not the end all be all,” Coleman said of Amendment 3. “And I think you will see efforts, win or lose, for Missourians to get another say in this.”

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Earlier this month, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican running for reelection, was asked about Amendment 3 during a rally in the Kansas City suburbs.

“I think it’s absolutely right Missouri voters get to make a choice on this,” he said. “And they can vote on it as many times as they want to.”

During an interview last month on Wake Up Mid-Missouri, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, the GOP candidate for governor, was asked what he could do if Amendment 3 passes.

“There will be ideas from the legislature I’m sure, and other groups, on how to continue to protect innocent life,” Kehoe said, later adding: “I will do everything I can to work with legislators and other folks around the state to find ways to make sure we continue to do that in some form or fashion.”

He later said that as a person of faith, he believes “we’ll figure out something.”

So far, polling has favored Amendment 3.

A recent Emerson College poll found 58% of those surveyed support Amendment 3, with 30% opposed. The most recent SLU/YouGov Poll found that 52% supported the amendment and 34% opposed.

Looking for more election info? The nonpartisan League of Women Voters of SW MO Voters Guide is online now, in print with your Oct. 27 News-Leader

An August 2022 St. Louis University/YouGov poll found 75% of likely Missouri voters polled immediately following the enactment of the state’s ban were in favor of exceptions for abortions in cases of rape, and 79% supported exceptions in cases of incest.

Patterson’s call to abide by the outcome of the Amendment 3 vote echoes his opposition to GOP efforts earlier this year to make it harder to amend the constitution through the initiative petition process.

The proposal was an effort to undermine the abortion-rights amendment, and when it came up for a final vote in the House, Patterson was the only Republican to vote “no.” The bill ultimately died in the Senate.

This story was first published at missouriindependent.com.

When God gives you 90 years, why not try and cheat death just a bit more?

A Missouri woman seemed to think just that when she celebrated her 90th birthday by going skydiving, hurling herself from a plane 10,000 feet in the air as her family looked on.

“You’re kind of close to heaven while you’re up there,” Eleanor Mann told KODE after her recent trip back down to Earth.

And the hair-raising leap was only her latest — 20 years ago, she went skydiving for the first time on her 70th birthday.

Mann enjoyed it so much, she promised herself if she made it to 90 she’d go again.

“I just thought it was an interesting thing to do, and I loved it. Before just floating down through the air, it was just wonderful,” she said.

Three generations of her family — her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren — stood close at hand and cheered her from the safety of the ground.

“[It’s] a blessing that they love me so much that they would take their time and drive so far,” Mann told KODE.

“I just appreciate it so much.”

The owner of Ozarks Skydive Center, the organization Mann jumped with, said seeing older clients make the jump is one of the best parts of the job.

“We love it. As much as we enjoy sharing the sport with everybody, we love to see those folks come out. It’s kind of a special thing for them,” owner Bryan Wolford said.

“And when we can share it with somebody at 90, that’s pretty, pretty neat,” he added.

Mann wasn’t even the oldest client they’ve seen — they once had a 96-year-old do a jump.

The oldest person to ever go skydiving is Alfred “Al” Blaschke, a Texan who made a dive at 106 years old in November, according to the Guinness World Records.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott even joined Blaschke for the jump to mark the occasion.

Blaschke previously set an age record for jumping at 103 in 2020.

Missouri‘s 34-0 loss to Alabama on the road has pushed the Tigers toward the outside of the SEC Championship race after nine weeks.

Not only that, but Missouri was without quarterback Brady Cook for the majority of the matchup after injuring his hand early, not to mention dealing with a nagging injury from the week prior. With no ranked teams left on their regular season schedule, Mizzou’s College Football Playoff chances are farther away than ever before entering November.

“Friends, we have gathered on this Sunday morning to bid farewell to the University of Missouri,” Paul Finebaum said on SportsCenter in a segement called ‘Paul Bearers,’ where he had to put a team’s playoff chances to rest. “They are gone dead, dead and gone after yesterday. I realize they only have two losses, and some would say that’s not enough, but let me give you a few facts.

“They played two legitimate big time teams this year, [Texas] A&M and Alabama yesterday. They have lost by a combined 75-10. That means they’re gone. They don’t even have a good non-conference win. That would be Boston College unless you count UMass. So nice knowing you guys. I’m sorry about the injury to Brady Cook and everything else. You guys gave it the good old college try, but see you later.”

Despite the lopsided score, the Crimson Tide lead 13-0 at halftime after a low-scoring first half. Alabama received the second-half kickoff and marched down the field in six plays for a touchdown. Missouri would throw interceptions on its first two possessions of the second half, which lead to another score for the Crimson Tide.

Together, quarterbacks Brady Cook and backup Drew Pyne combined for 13 of 24 for 72 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions.

Missouri was able to get the running game going, though, totaling 167 yards on 39 carries. Their only red zone trip resulted in a turnover on downs during the Tigers’ final possession of the game.

Looking ahead, Missouri does not play another ranked opponent and with losss to Texas A&M and Alabama in conference play, they’re smack in the middle of the SEC rankings and on the outside looking in on the conference title race.