The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri (ACLU of Missouri) released a poll July 8 which shows that 71 percent of Missouri voters want their legislators focusing on jobs and the economy rather than spending more time debating legislation which would force a 72-hour delay on a woman seeking an abortion.
Public Policy Polling (PPP) conducted the poll (summary attached below) of 759 Missouri voters on July 2 and 3, immediately following Gov. Nixon’s veto last week. It found that only 43 percent of Missourians support the legislation, while 50 percent oppose the measure. The data also found that the intensity on this issue is clearly with those opposed to the bill. Fifty-four percent of opponents said how a legislator voted on this bill would impact whether they voted for that lawmaker in November, compared to only 40 percent of bill supporters.
“This poll clearly demonstrates that Missourians oppose this controversial measure,” said ACLU of Missouri Executive Director Jeffrey A. Mittman. “Hard-working Missouri citizens want their elected officials in Jefferson City focused on bread-and-butter economic priorities like jobs, not pushing for more extreme political intrusion into a private medical decision.”
If supporters continue to push for an override, HB 1307 is expected to be one of the more high-profile measures debated in early September when the Missouri General Assembly reconvenes for its annual veto session.