(From Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove)On Tuesday of the past week, SB (Senate Bill) 49 was called up from the Informal Calendar. (You may recall that there’s a Formal and an Informal calendar. Bills on the Formal Calendar must be called up in the order in which they appear.
On the other hand, bills on the Informal calendar may be taken up in any order.) So, I was pleased that SB 49, which provides protection for minor children from the horrors of hormone and/or surgical procedures designed to alter the chemical and physical make up of a person’s body, was ready, once again, for Perfection (making the bill better through the amending process).
The bill was first called up on February 27. I was asked to lay the bill over (which means the bill will not be heard immediately). Because I was not given a substantive reason for laying the bill over, I refused. Shortly after I made the motion for the bill to be brought before the body for Perfection, a motion to adjourn was made to stop all business (and the day was done). The reason stated for adjourning was that the bill did not have the votes needed to pass.
By morning the next day, I ascertained that sufficient votes were pledged to pass the bill. Of course, there was no assurance that the democrats would allow the bill to come to a vote. (Any senator, or group of senators, can block a vote by filibuster.) Filibusters can be overcome by a motion called the “previous question” (stops the debate and a vote is taken on the bill at hand) and when the one(s) filibustering sit down.
Keep in mind that I have encouraged Senate leaders to bring the bill up early in the session. Doing so will allow sufficient time for democrats to filibuster for as long as they wish. Filibustering is not easy – even when reading a good book. So, until the democrats are tested for their resolve, we may never know how long they may stand.
So, when the bill was called up (on Tuesday) I understood that the democrats would stand against it. (Anyone recall the filibuster over the congressional redistricting maps last year? The filibuster lasted about 30 hours. No recesses or adjournments were called for after a mere four or five hours! But, that’s exactly what has been done for the democrats!)
Making it Easy on the Opposition
After about four hours of democrats standing against the bill, the session was adjourned.
Why, you ask? A banquet for the Statesman of the Year was scheduled for 6 p.m. I requested a recess, so we could continue the debate afterward. Adjournment was called for instead.
Session began on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Due to a recess to allow for committees to meet, the bill was not taken up again until about 11:30 a.m. While the democrats had the floor (filibustering), I met with republicans to ensure their support. Nothing had changed – we had the votes.
Nonetheless, after four or five hours of filibuster, a recess was called for in order for republicans to caucus. Ultimately, the question of whether to continue the session (overnight) with the uncertainty of the democrats ending the filibuster or adjourn for the night and return the following day (Thursday) and continue until the noon hour (spring break was before us). It was mentioned during caucus that, if only we had more time (if it were Tuesday – the day before) perhaps, going all night might be more productive. Why didn’t we think of that before? Oh, wait, we did! Good grief!
Spring Bread a Day Early
So, the decision was made to adjourn (as reported by senate leaders, the vote was 14-10 to adjourn). We soon learned, though, that the motion to adjourn was not to return Thursday, but May 20.
Fortunately, we have been assured that the bill will be taken up again “on March 20 when we convene after spring break.”
In the article * below, the Majority Floor Leader stated, “ ‘we did reach a partial agreement” that included a ban on surgeries for minors, “banning men from playing women’s sports….’ “
Unless the ban on hormones is included, the ban on surgeries is useless (since the introduction of hormones often is done prior to puberty). And, the long-term effects of hormones (puberty blockers, testosterone and estrogen) have not yet been determined. In the short-term, though, sufficient evidence has been gathered to understand that these experiments are not in the best interests of apparently healthy, growing children.
What Does the MO Constitution Say?
Discussions have been had that threaten to merge the Save Women’s Sports bill with the S.A.F.E. act. While the two bills have the same aim (protect vulnerable populations), combining them into one bill places at risk the ultimate goal of protecting female athletes from unfair competition and shielding minor children from the hands of adults who profit from their evil experiments.
The problem with joining the bills can be found in the Missouri Constitution (MOCON), Article III, sections 21 and 23. Section 21 states, “…no bill shall be so amended in its passage through either house as to change its original purpose.”
Except appropriation bills, “No bill shall contain more than one subject which shall be clearly expressed in its title…” as stated in section 23.
The original purpose of SB 39 (Save Women’s Sports) was relating to participation in athletic competition.
The original purpose of SB 49 (S.A.F.E.) was relating to gender transition procedures.
If the S.A.F.E. act is not passed as a stand alone bill and joined with the Save Women’s Sports act, what will be the “original” purpose? The suggested purpose is vulnerable children. Will this purpose satisfy the MOCON’s provision of original purpose?
You be the judge.
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