JEFFERSON CITY — The backer of a series of abortion-rights initiative petitions in Missouri says Republican-drafted ballot descriptions for the plans are unlawful and should be revised.
Jamie Corley, a Republican political operative from ºüÀêÊÓƵ County, that ballot summaries written by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft described provisions in “antagonistic and blatantly incorrect terms likely to prejudice voters against the measures.â€
She also took aim at fiscal estimates prepared by State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, which she called argumentative and also likely to create prejudice against the questions.
Missouri law currently allows abortions only in medical emergencies.
Each of Corley’s six petitions would allow abortions in cases of rape, incest, fatal fetal abnormalities or to protect the health and safety of the mother.
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Some of the plans also allow abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Among the wording Corley is challenging are Ashcroft’s use of the phrase “protecting the right to life.†She said the phrase is “politically charged and will bias†voters against the initiative petitions.
She also said that measures would allow “government interference†in abortions, arguing against Ashcroft’s claim that measures would allow “abortions at any age without government interference before fetal viability†if an exception is met.
The measures explicitly maintain “all state laws that do not contradict with the IP (initiative petition) and does not prohibit the general assembly from passing laws in the future,†the lawsuit said.
Corley also challenged fiscal estimates for the six petitions prepared by the Republican state auditor, which state: “The Attorney General’s office and opponents estimate a potentially significant loss to state and local revenue. The Attorney General’s office estimates increased state litigation costs of up to $21 million. Other state governmental entities estimate no costs or savings. Local governments estimate reduced revenue of at least $51,000 annually.â€
Corley asserted the estimate is not “consistent with the standards of the governmental accounting standards board.â€
She went on to say the estimated loss in local revenue was “based on faulty assumptions, including that the Attorney General will win his election in 2024.â€
“The estimation of litigation costs is based on the Attorney General winning his reelection then choosing to abdicate his duty to defend the laws of the state of Missouri,†Corley said.
She added the estimate would likely prejudice voters against the question “because it appears to voters that these measures will potentially cause significant losses, when in fact, this is rank speculation and untrue.â€
The new lawsuit is in addition to a separate legal battle over another set of proposals that go further than Corley’s in expanding abortion rights.
Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem rewrote Ashcroft’s ballot summaries for those petitions in September, and the state’s chief election officer has appealed the case to the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District.
Arguments at the appeals court are scheduled for Monday in Kansas City.
Beetem also upheld Fitzpatrick’s fiscal estimates.
Fitzpatrick and Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a fellow Republican, had fought over those fiscal estimates earlier this year, with Bailey insisting on a larger price tag. Bailey lost that fight at the Missouri Supreme Court.
In response to Corley’s lawsuit, Fitzpatrick said Friday that “while I understand both proponents and opponents would prefer a fiscal note that favors their position, my commitment to the voters of Missouri will not be swayed by political pressure from either side.
“We will defend our work once again and will continue to produce fair fiscal notes and fiscal note summaries the voters can trust,†Fitzpatrick said.
Ashcroft, who is running for governor in 2024, also stood by his ballot summaries.
“This lawsuit is another example of individuals trying to mask the truth to mislead voters,†he said in a statement. “The secretary of state’s office will always fight to protect the right of Missourians to make their own decision on how to vote.â€
The most recent lawsuit has also been assigned to Beetem and a hearing date had not been set as of Friday morning.