The campaign to raise Missouri’s tobacco tax with a constitutional amendment is in trouble because some Missourians believe the money raised will be spent funding abortions.
Advocates of the tax increase insist the money will be used to support childhood education but one clause in the proposal has pro-life groups on high alert.
The specific proposal, supported by The Raise Your Hands for Kids campaign which is collecting signatures to ensure it gets on the ballot in November, says none of the revenue raised can go to any “abortion clinic, abortion clinic operator, or outpatient health care facility that provides abortion services,” reports The Kansas City Star.
But, there is an additional clause that says “unless such services are limited to medical emergencies.” Pro-life supporters fear a lack of clarity over the term “medical emergencies,” could lead to an increase in taxpayer-funded abortion.
The executive director of Raise Your Hands for Kids Linda Rallo, however, claims “this is completely untrue.” Rallo is relieved that Missouri Right to Life, the state’s biggest pro-life group, approved the language of the proposal and is hoping voters will not be deterred from signing the petition.
According to The Kansas City Star, Rallo blames the Missouri Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association for the confusion. The trade group is opposing the 60 cents per pack tax rise by 2020.
Rallo’s campaign is also facing a legal attack after Springfield tobacco dealer Jim Boeving filed a lawsuit Feb. 5 challenging the amendment. Boeving argues the initiative has failed to provide sufficient grounds to justify the tax and that other provisions are unconstitutional, the Columbia Tribune reports.
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