JEFFERSON CITY — The leader of a “more moderate†effort to legalize abortion in Missouri announced Thursday that she was suspending the campaign, backing “any effort†that would overturn Missouri’s near-total abortion ban.
The ballot question supported by the Missouri Women and Family Research Fund would have allowed abortions within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and in cases of rape and incest.
Jamie Corley, the leader of that effort, on Thursday signaled support for an alternative plan that would legalize abortion until after the point of fetal viability, unless the life or health of the mother is at risk. The treating health care professional would determine whether fetal viability had been reached.
“It is our sincere hope that come November, this ban will be overturned and women will have access to the health care they want, need and deserve,†Corley said in a statement.
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The Missouri Women and Family Research Fund had been competing with the more expansive effort, by the group Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, which launched a signature-gathering campaign this week.
That campaign has until May 5 to submit the roughly 172,000 to 185,000 signatures necessary to make the ballot later this year.
“We are supportive of any effort to overturn the ban, but we are not officially joining MCF (Missourians for Constitutional Freedom),†Corley said.
She also said her campaign would withdraw a lawsuit filed against Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, both Republicans, that challenged ballot wording voters would see if the question made the ballot.
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat who is running for governor, said the withdrawal of Corley’s initiative will help lessen confusion for voters.
“I’m glad to see we can be unified moving forward,†Quade said Thursday. “We’re going to do everything we can to get this across the finish line.â€