PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTIONS LEGAL IN MISSOURI . . .In May of 1997, the Missouri General Assembly voted OVERWHELMINGLY to ban the gruesome abortion procedure called the "PARTIAL- BIRTH ABORTION" (SB 275). Governor Mel Carnahan, however, vetoed SB 275 in July, 1997. On September 10, 1997, during the "veto session", an attempt was made to override Governor Carnahan's veto of SB 275. In order to override the governor's veto so that this horrible procedure would never be performed in the state of Missouri, 23 Missouri Senators would have to vote against the governor. The effort to override the veto failed by one vote -- 22 Senators voted to override the veto and 12 Senators voted to sustain the governor's veto, thereby legalizing the "partial-birth abortion" procedure in the state of Missouri. 12 Senators VOTE TO SUSTAIN THE GOVERNOR'S VETO 1. - J.B. Banks Rm 319 (573) 751-4650 2. * Harold Caskey Rm 320 (573) 751- 4116 3. - William Clay Rm 429 (573) 751-2229 4. ** Wayne Goode Rm 334 (573) 751-2420 5. * J.T. Howard Rm 428A (573) 751-3301 6. - Ken Jacob Rm 420A (573) 751-2131 7. * Mike Lybyer Rm 333 (573) 751-2601 8. * James MathewsonRm 323 (573) 751-4771 9. * Joe Maxwell Rm 219 (573) 751-4200 10. * Ed Quick Rm 331A (573) 751-4524 11. * Betty Sims Rm 226 (573) 751-7147 12. * Danny Staples Rm 418 (573) 751-3534 * Voted FOR The Partial Birth Abortion Ban (SB 275) in May BUT Changed His/Her Vote on September 10, 1997 - Voted AGAINST SB 275 in May ** Absent in May To Write your Senator in Jefferson City: GOALS 2000 & SCHOOL-TO- WORK DEFUNDED . . .On September 11, 1997, U.S. Senator Gorton (R-WA) introduced an amendment to the Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Bill which would return education spending to the States. The Gorton amendment, which passed the Senate by a vote of 51-49, completely defunds:1) Goals 2000 2) the School-To-Work Opportunity Act 3) the National Educational Goals Panel 4) the National Skills Standards Board 5) Vocational Education 6) over $11 billion worth of other federal educational programs The money earmarked for these programs will be given in block grants straight to local education agencies "to support programs or activities for kindergarten through grade 12 students that the local educational agencies deem appropriate." [Urgent Action Alert, National Center for Home Education, 9/15/97 & Eagle Forum, 9/12/97] "Early estimates report that $5.5 billion could be sent straight to local school boards without the burden of mandates from the federal bureaucracy." [Jennifer A. Marshall, Education Analyst, Family Research Council Press Release, 9/11/97] "FRC applauds Senator Gorton and those senators who voted for kids and education rather than bureaucrats. The U.S. Education Department calls it a 'catastrophe' when parents and local taxpayers decide on how their own money is spent on the education of their children. We call that truly public education. Those closest to children know better than bureaucrats how to meet their educational needs." [Jennifer Marshall, FRC Press Release, 9/11/97] Congressman Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) has introduced an amendment in the House identical to the Gorton amendment The Hoekstra amendment will be voted on in mid-September. NATIONAL TESTING APPROVED BY U.S. SENATE . . .On September 11, 1997, the Senate passed the Coats' amendment to the Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Bill, by a vote of 87-13. This amendment will give the U.S. Department of Education the power to continue with President Clinton's plan to establish a national test in reading and math for 4th and 8th graders. The amendment also gives the federally appointed National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) complete authority over the federal government tests and bases the test on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests. The amendment makes "key changes in the composition of NAGB so that is has greater bipartisanship and independence," according to former GOP Secretary of Education, William Bennett. [Eagle Forum, Emergency Update, 9/11/97] As a result of the many phone calls to the Senate, home schools and private schools were excluded from the national testing in the Coats' amendment. Thirteen senators voted against national testing: Allard (CO); Ashcroft (MO); Brownback (KS); Gramm (TX); Grams (MN); Hagel (NE); Helms (NC); Hutchinson (AR); Inhofe (OK); Nickles (OK); Sessions (AL); Shelby (AL); and Thompson (TN). Senator Ashcroft spoke out in opposition to national testing with these comments: "I rise to indicate my opposition to a national individualized testing system that could lead to a one-size-fits-none curriculum dictated from Washington. I just want to indicate that I think nationalizing the testing process for our schools will drive us to a national curriculum and drive us to national teacher certification."NATIONAL TESTING REJECTED BY THE U.S. HOUSE . . .On September 16, 1997, the House overwhemingly passed the Goodling (R-PA) amendment to the Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Bill, which prohibits any federal funds from being used to develop or implement any new national education tests. Opposition to President Clinton's program for voluntary national testing has been growing on both sides of the political spectrum. Some conservatives believe the plan would be another intrusion by the federal government into local issues and the first step toward a national curriculum. Liberals object because they fear that poor or minority students will not perform well on national tests. [Jerry Gray, "Both parties in House Agree to Block National Testing", New York Times, 9/11/97] Because the Senate and House versions of the Labor/HHS/Education bill are different, the bill will go to a Conference Committee to work out the differences. |