Missouri House rehashes abortion debate; fireworks (and Twitter) ensue
JEFFERSON CITY — The House of Representatives today passed Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt’s bill criminalizing what it calls abortion coercion.
The debate, which once again got a bit personal, lasted about an hour.
“Please join me to reduce the number of abortions in the state of Missouri,” Pratt said to his colleagues.
Cynthia Davis, R-O’Fallon, and Beth Low, D-Kansas City, who are staunchly on either side of the issue, hashed it out.
“Give me a break, lady,” Low said when Davis said the bill would help women.
“Why are you against giving women information?” Davis asked.
The argument spiraled into both yelling, “You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
Then Davis said, “You do not know diddly squat, when–” at which point she was cut off by the presiding Representative.
Bel Nor Democrat Don Calloway also criticized the bill and its sponsors.
“I would like to give a rousing congratulations to Missouri Right to Life… They have shown who runs this body,” he said. “I think it’s disgusting — I think it’s immoral what we’ve decided to do” with the lobbyists.
Calloway said the bill is “criminalizing parenting, criminalizing pastorship, criminalizing mentorship, criminalizing friendships.”
“Can you show me where in the bill it criminalizes friendship?” Pratt asked.
The bill passed with 115 votes, which is more than enough to override a veto.
Incidentally, a few Representatives were twittering while this was going on. Some excerpts:
Republican Scott Diekhaus (@sdieckhaus):
- Looks like Rep. Calloway is receiving an education from Rep. Pratt.
- Very heated and emotional debate on abortion bill. Rep. Davis is likely crossing the line and making attacks personal.
Democrat John Burnett (@johnburnettkc):
- Speaker gavels Cynthia Davis down for being rude in abortion debate.
- Beth Low and Cynthia Davis debating abortion.This is worth the price of admission.
Follow me at @roseannmoring.



can we outlaw twittering in the capitol? I like to at least imagine that our elected officials are thoughtful.