JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers are at a standstill on broad anti-abortion legislation more than a month after Republican Gov. Eric Greitens called them into a special session to deal with abortion issues.
The legislation calls for several new regulations, such as annual state inspections of abortion clinics. But one of the provisions causing the most confusion addresses a St. Louis ordinance intended to prevent discrimination based on reproductive health decisions, such as pregnancy and abortion.
Greitens and other critics say the St. Louis ordinance could infringe on the rights of abortion opponents or prevent anti-abortion groups from only hiring staffers who share their views.
But the governor also says some media outlets have mischaracterized how the St. Louis ordinance would be affected by the broad legislation being considered by state lawmakers.
