This week marks the 35th anniversary of the landmark abortion decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade. This decision has been polarizing and did nothing to end the debate. For some, the angst stems from the judicial branch doing that which rightfully belongs to the legislative branch of government. Others do not mind this usurpation of power. We can all agree that this debate is far from settled. If it were as simple as allowing the Supreme Court to decide for us, the public debate would have ended in 1973.

While people end up on differing sides for a variety of reasons, I am here to offer you my reasons and my principles that guide my decisions on this issue in regards to public policy.

Violence is not good. An abortion is an act of violence and the taking of a life. Even literature written by feminists from the early 1900s to the 1960s has historically been pro-life (more information at pro-life feminism). If women were mistreated by men in some circumstances, they did not take it out on the baby. To elect to do surgery that kills an innocent human life when the situation would resolve itself peacefully in a few months is hard to imagine.
I am in favor of choice. Studies show that a percentage of young ladies who have their babies aborted are doing so under duress. Some people say they are pro-choice, but in reality, they are only in favor of one choice---getting rid of the baby. Some state governments have gone so far as paying for abortions. This only increases the wrongful pressure on the women who really do not want this choice. Boyfriends or parents are often pushing this because they do not want the expense or the inconvenience of a baby. For this reason, many women face lifelong psychological hardships after an abortion---because in reality, it wasn’t their choice.
I am pro-woman. Women deserve respect, regardless of their circumstances. We need to help our friends and neighbors who are in trouble, not abandon them in their time of need. You cannot rewind the tape of your life. You can only go forward. An abortion does not undo the trauma of a rape or incest. These acts are abhorrent and need to be punished with the harshest of prison sentences for the perpetrators. However, oftentimes these crimes are covered up by the abortion, allowing more abuse in the long run. We need to make sure these wrongs are being punished, not masked. How many men did not get prosecuted for these crimes because the evidence was disposed of?

Often an abortion is a small part of a much larger problem. When a tragedy occurs, such as a woman being abandoned by the father of her child, she needs all of us to come alongside of her and support her. Many women who have one abortion will have several because the root problem was never addressed. Abortion is only a symptom of something that has already gone terribly wrong. Our focus needs to be on what we can do to help these women who are driven to desperation.

We are never going to solve the debate with short barbs on picket signs. The solution will require thoughtful consideration of the larger philosophical questions of how we value life and human dignity.

Your thoughts are important to me, so please let me know what you think. You can send me your opinion by clicking here: Cynthia Davis.

Federal Court Overrules State on Abortion Decision

When an inmate asked for transportation to a medical facility to have an abortion; the Department of Corrections refused to provide the transportation. The department estimated the cost of transporting the inmate from Vandalia, where she is housed, to St. Louis, and reasoned that it would violate state law which prohibits the use of state tax dollars to facilitate abortions.

According to the New York Times, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a class action suit that the state was interfering with her right to have an elective abortion. On Jan. 22, the Federal 8^th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis ruled in favor of the inmate and the ACLU by declaring the state of Missouri must provide the transportation. It is now up to the state to appeal the decision.

This is one more example of where the judiciary appears to be making decisions that are not coherent. Here are some incongruities I would like to point out:

Although the decision deals with “rights”, prisoners are not entitled to the same freedoms and rights as those who are not incarcerated. Being in prison means you lose some of the rights and freedoms you would have had on the outside.
The root problem was related to the expense. We require inmates to pay for their own cigarettes and other electives, so why not require her to front the money for the staff time, vehicle maintenance, and gas to accommodate her choice?
Where does it end? Slice it however you want, this was an “elective” procedure. The inmate did not require surgery for any medical reason.
The taxpayers are already required to take care of her medical needs while she is in prison. If she had a complication from the surgery, the taxpayers would be required to pay for that as well.
The entire ordeal has been brought on by a judicial decision from which your elected representatives were excluded. This is an example of a decision that gives judges a poor reputation. Missouri has a law that does not allow the Missouri taxpayers to facilitate abortions. According to Amendment X of the U.S. Constitution, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.”

Missouri owes it to our state autonomy to appeal this decision. Some arm wrestles are worth having for the sake of the principle involved.

A Little Bit of Humor...

Three Psychiatrists

Attending a convention, three psychiatrists take a walk. "People are always coming to us with their guilt and fears," one says, "but we have no one to go to with our problems. Since we're all professionals, why don't we hear each other out right now?"

They agree that this is a good idea. The first psychiatrist confesses, "I'm a compulsive shopper and deeply in debt, so I overbill patients as often as I can."

The second admits, "I have a drug problem that's out of control, and I frequently pressure my patients into buying illegal drugs for me."

The third psychiatrist says, "I know it's wrong, but no matter how hard I try, I just can't keep a secret."

This Capitol Report is a weekly column by Representative Cynthia Davis, from the 19^th District, covering events in the Missouri Legislature and district-wide issues.

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