IMMIGRATION: For the most part immigration is a federal issue states have only a limited role to play. The Missouri House passed a proposal to give our state law enforcement officers the training and resources needed to identify, detain and remove illegal immigrants from Missouri. However, the bill didn’t get to the floor of the Missouri Senate.

We must work to prevent illegal immigrants from receiving public benefits. One of these benefits is higher education. HB269, sponsored by Representative Nolte, would have prevented illegal immigrants from attending public colleges and universities. While it is harder and harder to get into quality colleges and universities, we shouldn’t allow illegal aliens to benefit from the education our taxpayer are providing. Missouri Eagle Forum will continue working to pass this legislation.

PRO-LIFE: In 1995, the Missouri legislature passed a bill protecting women who are injured at the hands of Missouri abortionists which, among other provisions, required abortion clinics to be licensed or at least inspected annually by the department of health, but Governor Carnahan vetoed that measure.

Finally, we were able to get the Missouri legislature to again pass a law, HB1055, to prevent abortionists taking advantage of vulnerable, pregnant women. Governor Blunt just signed HB1055 into law.

Under this new law any outpatient abortion clinic that performs or induces five or more first trimester abortions a month or any second or third trimester abortions at all, must be licensed as an ambulatory surgical center.

Other regulations that Planned Parenthood clinics must comply:

• CPR-trained personnel must be on-site when patients are present during and following abortions;
• A physician must be in the premises, immediately available for a patient in the recovery room;
• An emergency tray equipped to treat seizures, bleedings, anaphylactic shock, respiratory arrest and cardiac arrest shall be immediately available to the procedure room and recovery room;
• Each abortion facility shall develop a quality assurance program that includes all health and safety aspects of patient care and shall include a review of appropriateness of care;
• The state Department of Health & Senior Services can inspect the abortion clinic during normal working hours and must investigate any formal complaint against the clinic within 20 days.

The new law tightens up current abstinence education law so that public grade schools and high schools must:

• Stop referring students for abortions;
• No longer allows those who perform abortions (like Planned Parenthood) or its employees teach sex education to students or provide sex ed course materials or instruction to students;
• Be allowed to present abstinence-only instruction if that is what the local school board decides.

This law also provides an alternative to abortion program including counseling, food, clothing and supplies relating to pregnancy, newborn care and parenting, ultrasound and adoption assistance. The public awareness component can also include government-funded TV, radio, billboard and other ads promoting the availability of alternatives to abortion agencies and services.

These provisions will help pro-life not-for-profit agencies serve thousands of clients. Planned Parenthood plans to protest bill, decision expected by August 28.

TAXATION: Missouri senior citizens will see a difference in their Social Security checks soon. Income tax deduction for any Social Security benefits received by the elderly regardless of income passed Missouri Legislature. HB444, sponsored by Representative Jetton and Representative Bearden.