Gov. Nixon Vetoes Religious Freedom Bill

CWA of Missouri awarded Sen. John Lamping, R-St. Louis County the Freedometer Award for sponsoring SB 749, which provides protections for religious beliefs as to the imposition of certain health care services such as abortion, contraception, or sterilization. This was Missouri’s answer to the HHS mandate in regard to religious organizations to provide health insurance coverage that provided for abortion, contraception or sterilization.

SB 749 was passed on the last day of session by a vote of 28 to 6 in the Senate and by a vote of 105 – 33 in the House.

On Thursday, July 12, Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed that legislation. Sen. Lamping responded “I am extremely disappointed that Senate Bill 749 was not signed into law today.”…“I ask that all Missourians who support the freedom of religion as provided by the First Amendment contact their elected officials and encourage them to override this veto.”

State House Speaker-elect Tim Jones, R-Eureka, who handled the bill in the House issued a release promising to attempt a veto override. "It is outrageous that Governor Nixon chose to side with pro-abortion interest groups and President Obama against a measure protecting the constitutional guarantee of religious liberty for Missourians against Obama's HHS mandate. Just as I led the effort to pass this bill in the Missouri House of Representatives, I will lead the effort to override Governor Nixon's veto." Jones said.

Concerned Women for America of Missouri will join in the effort to override the governor’s veto when the Missouri General Assembly goes into its veto session on Sept. 12. Please contact your state representative and state senator and encourage him/her to vote to override the veto of SB 749. Don’t know who your state representative or state senator is? You can go to http://www.senate.mo.gov/llookup/leg_lookup.aspx or call us at 314-608-0168.