Missouri governor vows to fight abortion anti-discrimination ordinance in St. Louis

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens has vowed to lead the fight in repealing a St. Louis law that amended the city's anti-discrimination ordinance to include reproductive health decisions.

St. Louis Board of Aldermen voted 17–10 earlier this month to approve Board Bill 203, which prohibits employers and landlords from discriminating against women who have made decisions related to abortion or birth control. The measure was then signed by St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.

The ordinance provides limited exemptions for religious institutions, but it does not provide protections for individual business owners who might have objections based on their religious beliefs. Violation of the law carries a maximum fine of $500 and up to 90 days' imprisonment.

In a phone call to Pathway Editor Don Hinkle, Greitens shared his commitment to oppose the ordinance. "We must protect people of faith and we must protect the unborn. We must win this and I am proud to lead the fight on this issue," he said.

Hinkle, who is also the Public Policy Advisor for the Missouri Baptist Convention, said that he will support the governor's efforts to repeal the abortion ordinance.

"Board Bill 203 is an evil law that must be overturned and I promised the governor that Missouri Southern Baptists will assist him in fighting this vile action that makes St. Louis a city of death and targets the least among us — the unborn," he said.

While the governor did not reveal the steps he intended to take, it has been reported that the General Assembly has proposed a legislation that could nullify or overturn Board Bill 203.

St. Louis Review reported last week that Missouri lawmakers are considering a bill on the free speech rights of alternative-to-abortion agencies.

Rep. Tila Hubrecht (R-Dexter) introduced House Bill 174 which would allow pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes to freely assemble and engage in religious practices or speech without government interference.

St. Louis Alderwoman Christine Ingrassia, who co-sponsored Board Bill 203, expressed her concern that the House measure has a "distinct possibility" of invalidating the St. Louis ordinance. "I don't think we should be pre-empted from making sure our citizens are protected," she said.

Deacon Sam Lee, a pro-life lobbyist with Campaign Life Missouri, argued that House Bill 174 is necessary because some local governments in other states, such as Baltimore and Montgomery County, Md., New York City, Austin and San Francisco, have lobbied for ordinances that interfered with the free speech rights of alternative-to-abortion agencies.