Sen. Joan Bray angers male senators with comments on abortion bill
Bray
JEFFERSON CITY — The fallout from the Senate compromise on the abortion bill grew exponentially this morning.
Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon, chastised Sen. Joan Bray, D-University City, on the floor of the Senate this morning for her comments last night criticizing the “men” who control the abortion debate for disrespecting women. (More on that in a bit).
And the compromise that senators worked so hard at might have gone up in smoke. Anti-abortion lobbyists told key House members this morning that they oppose the compromise because they believe it undoes hard-fought for regulations in the informed consent law passed in 2003.
According to anti-abortion activist Sam Lee, the bill that came out of the Senate opens up the possibility that the existing informed consent laws would be put on hold during a possible legal challenge of the new law. That’s because of a provision that gives the Columbia Planned Parenthood clinic a 3-year pass on following the new law. Theoretically, Lee says, Planned Parenthood could sue over most of the law, but not that section. During the several years a court case might take, the 2003 provisions might not be enforceable, he said.
Lee sent a letter to House speaker pro tem Bryan Pratt this morning urging him to oppose the new abortion bill. The House could send it’s older version to the Senate, or it could seek a conference where compromise could be reached.
As for Goodman and Bray, their testy exchange this morning led Majority Floor Leader Kevin Engler to walk out at one point.
Last night, Bray gave an impassioned speech decrying what she called the sexism behind abortion bills year after year. Her strongest line implied that lawmakers were “pro-life” with their wives and “pro-choice” with their girlfriends. No senators responded to the line at the time.
But this morning Goodman called Bray’s remarks “highly offensive” and “slanderous.”
Goodman said Bray had insulted “decent, committed families” and Senate spouses who shoulder the job of being a single parent during the week when the Legislature is in session.
Bray responded that she was talking about the ethical culture of the Capitol.
“I did not say this chamber specifically. I said around here.”
Engler left the chamber during Bray’s remarks. When he returned he said he didn’t want to listen to that “crap.”
Below is the full speech Bray gave last night. Thanks to Bob Watson for the transcript:
“After multiple years on this issue, I’m sick of it. I’m totally sick of it.
I’m sick of women being treated like they are so stupid that they can’t make their own decisions regarding their reproductive rights and their bodies.
I’m sick of women having no options, and being coerced to give birth.
I’m sick of a bunch of men around here, year after year after year, piling up restriction after restriction after restriction on women who found themselves in a very unhappy, unpleasant circumstance of an unwanted pregnancy.
Missouri has the most restrictive abortion laws in the country and, as a result, Missouri’s women are put in danger when they finally do ever get to have an abortion — they’re later and they’re tougher abortions to have because there are so many barriers to Missouri women getting to have a safe and legal abortion.
I am sick of the disrespect for women who come to the Capitol defending a woman’s legal right to choose an abortion.
I am sick that they’re being treated dismissively and rudely.
I’m sick of the ethic around here that men are pro-life for their wives and pro-choice for their girlfriends.
I’m sick of the failure to take steps that would, in fact, reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, through sex education, contraception, family planning and emergency contraception.
No man in this body will ever have an unwanted pregnancy.
But, mark my word, your daughters, your wives, your sisters, your granddaughters, your nieces will.
And your actions here tonight will disrespect and diminish them.”
Im a 60 year old MAN…im against abortion and im pro-choice….so is my 49 year old wife.
You folks are some sick puppies. I’ll never understand the callousness and lack of regret in people that advocate killing babies.
Typical overreactive response from a radical liberal! If someone in my family has an unplanned pregnancy we talk about, provide support and accept that we have a new family member coming in. Thank goodness there are term limits. Government is a service and was not meant to be a career. The choice was to have sex now that there is a pregnancy the choice is now a child. Both parents should have a say in it and its not just a female issue.
Thank you, Senator Bray, for speaking up for women, for families, for choice!
CH — you beat me to the punch when commenting on “nan’s” twisted logic. How many newborns fit her description of not needing assistance to eat, drink, etc? I have a totally disabled daughter and she cannot do any of these things without assistance — and she is 18 years from being inside my wife’s body. Nan - you really missed the boat with your comment.
Way to go Senator Bray. The truth can hurt, thus the strong reactions in some instances, methinks.
Hmm…I wonder how many of the dissenting posts are from men (loosest description). It’s easy to be so “high-and-mighty” when you’re spared the real effects. Gotta love that Y-Chromosome, guys.
Well, I’m male and completely agree that women deserve the right to choose the legality of this issue. Men should get no voice in the issue as they’ve clearly botched the job thus far.
And enough of this “ask the child how safe it is” nonsense. It’s a fetus. You’re not a person until you’re in my phone book!!
And when that happens, it seems like you Anti-Abortion Activists lose interest. I guess it’s the lack of a captive audience.
It is ironic that men are making laws that will never, ever affect their bodies. Kind of like how quickly funds were available for prostate cancer research and treatment, but we’re still years away and millions of dollars away in research for a cure for breast cancer. As it’s been and will continue to be, if women want to find a cure, they have to have tons of fundraisers (Susan Komen) ect….just to move ahead. SSDD. Pro-choice doesn’t mean pro-abortion, it means pro-CHOICE
Wow - what an issue for this country to be split on…. If someone in cold blood killed a 5 year old child everyone would be in an uproar to “hang” the person that did that. But apparently it is okay to kill a baby. Protect yourself if you do not want a baby - I was adopted - I could have easily been aborted - which is why I firmly believe in Pro-Life.
To “North County Nan”, do you even realize what you admitted? You spoke of men men not having to be deal with the consequences of their actions by winding up with “another human being inside their bodies”. Do you not see the disconnect in knowing that this is a “human being” inside the mother, and yet advocating that we should be legally allowed to kill her? Furthermore, any biology or medical textbook can reveal that at the moment of conception, 46 chromosomes with 30,000 genes combine to form all the physical and genetic characteristics of a unique new person, totally distinct from both parents. At just 18 days, there is a measurable heartbeat on an EKG, and at 6 weeks brain waves are detectable with an EEG. At about 8 weeks, all her major organs and systems are formed and functioning. These are biological facts derived from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And almost all abortions don’t occur until 8 weeks or later. Abortion always results in the deliberate death (killing) of a pre-born human being. Well, almost always — there are a few who have survived botched abortions and now live to advocate for pre-born human life (see http://www.giannajessen.com). What kind of a society legally sanctions and approves the deliberate killing of innocent, and sacred human life? Please think about it.