Mo. Senate committee hears bill criminalizing pregnant drug use
Brad Lager
JEFFERSON CITY — It’s hard to find a middle ground between those for and those against abortion rights in Missouri. But both have come together against a bill from Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah, heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee tonight.
Lager’s bill would criminalize illegal drug use during pregnancy. Detractors think this would lead to drug-using expectant mothers to avoid prenatal care or seek abortions rather than be caught with drugs in their systems.
Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon, suggested a clause that would prevent prosecution if the woman was seeking treatment. Lager agreed, but bill opponent Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, said she wasn’t sold.
Justus said the mechanism already in place — permanent removal of the child — is sufficient.
And many others testified against the bill.
“We sit here in a room of privilege, but there are those who live in dire circumstances that we are blessed not to understand,” said Colleen Coble of the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
To those the bill addresses, “the public policy means nothing,” Coble said. “What they know is, you go to the doctor, you go to jail.”
Representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood and Missouri Catholic Conference also testified against the bill.
But Lager didn’t budge.
“I just believe strongly that this type of action and this type of behavior cannot be condoned,” he said.
The committee could vote on the bill as early as next week.
Rep. Lager is the same one who decided earlier to do away with funding for “historic preservation” only after his town got theirs done. Now he is “being tough on crime” without actually doing anything.
A far more useful bill would be to provide funding for the type of care for pregnant women who may be addicted to drugs so that their pregnancy can go better.
Next month he will introduce a bill against people who breathe more than their fair share of air.
Next month he will introduce a bill against people who breathe more than their fair share of air.
— RHarnack
1:45 pm March 31st, 2009
I think you have expended your allocation.
Honestly folks, would the state or country be better off or worse off if legislators met for 2 weeks, passed a budget, then went home? Me thinks we would all be better off without so much legislating.
RHarnack: The bill you speak of will not prevent those who breathe more than their fair share of air from doing so. It will tax them for the over-consumption in the form of carbon credit purchases with an required charitable donation to Missouricorp - an statewide subsidiary of Americorp.
Here’s my problem with this chowderhead law, besides the self-serving nature of even sponsoring such a conundrum, the woman can get a later-term abortion but can’t hit the pipe if she wants to…it’s un-American. What about her unalienable right to the pursuit of happiness?
More laws. Why? Enforce the ones we have. That’s enough to keep us all busy for a long time and the real criminals where they belong.