Ashcroft rejects third referendum petition seeking to put abortion bill to vote

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft struck down a third referendum petition seeking to give voters a final say on a restrictive abortion bill — just after a judge held an initial hearing regarding the previous two petitions he already rejected.

Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, signed the legislation at the end of May which restricts abortions up to eight weeks and is set to go into effect at the end of August. It includes exceptions in the case of a medical emergency but does not exempt victims of rape or incest from the restrictions — a cause of consternation for some Republicans as well.

Already, Ashcroft struck down two referendum petitions last week — from the ACLU of Missouri and GOP megadonor David Humphreys — because an emergency clause is attached to the bill, meaning a portion of it went into effect as soon as Parson gave his signature.

A third measure, which Ashcroft rejected Tuesday, had excluded the portion covered by the emergency clause, yet still it was denied.

Read more: https://themissouritimes.com/62263/ashcroft-rejects-third-referendum-petition-seeking-to-put-abortion-bill-to-vote/