Sen. Joan Bray, D-St. Louis, said she would not support the legislation. Assuming that a fetus can feel pain at five months does not reflect the most recent science, she said.
House Republicans introduced two abortion bills today during the opening of the special session called by Governor Matt Blunt. Debate over the prospective legislation is set to begin tomorrow, and democrats like Senator Joan Bray are discussing their options.
The bill would toughen the law by letting police ticket motorists solely for not wearing their seat belts. But the ten dollar fine would still be one of the lowest in the country. And that bothered St. Louis Senator Joan Bray.
*Graham's fellow Democrats did most of the work early on. St. Louis Senators Tim Green, Maida Coleman -- herself a cosponsor of the name change bill -- Rita Days and Joan Bray held up proceedings by debating a series of amendments. They filled the time by complaining about the cuts to social services, like Medicaid, proposed in Blunt's budget.
"The bill would lower malpractice insurance premium rates. It would put some regulations on the insurance industry that would result in lower rates," said Sen. Joan Bray, D-St. Louis County.
Flanked by state democratic leaders, Saint Louis Senator Joan Bray introduced her plan to slow the growth of medical malpractice insurance premiums. Under the plan, companies wanting to raise rates by more than fifteen percent would have to prove the hike was needed. Demoratic Floor Leader Maida Coleman says insurance companies need to be held accountable for their rates.
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