JEFFERSON CITY The Democrats for Life Caucus is letting its voice be heard in Jefferson City regarding its support of pro-life legislation.
While the pro-life Democrats may be few in numbers since the last election, said Rep. Linda Black, D-Bonne Terre and a longtime member of East Bonne Terre First Baptist Church, chairperson for the caucus, we are strong in the message that we very much stand for the preservation of human life. The caucus met in early March to affirm its interest in passing pro-life legislation during the current session of the Missouri General Assembly.
We do have a very active and very concerned group of pro-life Democrats, Black said.
The meeting, she explained, was a preliminary gathering to get acquainted with newly elected Democrat legislators and to get an idea of what their motivation is in the pro-life cause.
Also invited were special interest groups such as Missouri Right to Life, Missouri Family Network, and others that have an interest in pro-life legislation.
All 16 caucus members have indicated support for House Bill 213 (HB) which was introduced by Rep. Timothy Jones, R-Eureka, and co-sponsored by 80 other representatives. HB 213 would ban late term abortions.
Among the caucus members giving their endorsements for the bill is newly elected Rep. Ben Harris, D-Hillsboro, who is a 2000 graduate of Missouri Baptist University and attends Morse Mill Baptist Church.
Harris succeeds his mother, Rep. Belinda Harris, also of Hillsboro, who was unable to run again because of term limits and who worked hard for the passage of pro-life legislation during her eight-year tenure.
Harris said he ran into people on the campaign trail who thought Democrats could not be pro life. Yes, you can, he assured them.
Kerry Messer, president of Missouri Family Network, which provides lobbying services for the Missouri Baptist Conventions Christian Life Commission, told those attending the March 2 meeting that the high number of pro-life legislators this session is due to the fact that the constituents in the districts are themselves pro-life, which demonstrates that the state is pro-life.
Messer said 130 of the 163 members of this years House of Representatives are pro-life legislators.
HB 213 was approved by the House on March 17 on a vote of 119-38.
BARBARA SHOUN/contributing writer