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U.S. NEWS Friday 24 February 2017

St. Louis ordinance seeks to pre-empt Missouri abortion laws

KATIE KULL all corners of government.
Associated Press “I think a lot of advocates
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) believe that those types of
— A new ordinance in St. bills and that type of lan-
Louis prohibits discrimina- guage is the future of dis-
tion based on “reproduc- crimination,” Green said.
tive health decisions,” an Last year, Missouri lawmak-
effort by the heavily Dem- ers killed a measure that
ocratic city to pre-empt a several other GOP-led
slew of anti-abortion mea- states approved letting
sures advancing through companies cite a religious
Missouri’s Republican-con- objection in denying em-
trolled Legislature. ployment or services.
While largely symbolic, the Such proposals — includ-
ordinance that took effect ing a federal one applying
last week bans employers to government contractors
from firing, — were decried as discrim-
refusing to hire or disciplin- inatory against the LGBT
ing women because they community, but Green said
have an abortion, take it’s not too far a stretch to
contraception, use arti- imagine similar legislation
ficial insemination or be- targeting women for their
come pregnant out of pregnancy decisions. Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens speaks in St. Louis. A new ordinance in St. Louis prohibits discrimination
wedlock. Peter Karutz, a senior part- based on “reproductive health decisions,” an effort by the heavily Democratic city to pre-empt a
Alderwoman Megan Ellyia ner at MDD Forensic Ac- slew of anti-abortion measures advancing through Missouri’s Republican-controlled Legislature.
Green said her ordinance countants, said that while Religious organizations and several Republican legislators have spoken out against the St. Louis
wasn’t sparked by any spe- the St. Louis ordinance ordinance, and Greitens has signaled he’ll fight against it.
cific case or current law. claims to roll back discrimi- (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Rather, she viewed it as a nation, it actually infringes who is also the president of der the Constitution, peo- islators have spoken out
way for the city to stake out on the religious rights of the St. Louis chapter of an ple have the right to have against the St. Louis ordi-
its opposition to future laws business owners. organization for Catholic their own beliefs.” nance, and Gov. Eric Gre-
enacted in Missouri, where “Businesses are not owned business leaders. “They’re Religious organizations and itens has signaled he’ll fight
Republicans now control by robots,” said Karutz, owned by people, and un- several Republican leg- against it.q

Former House speaker predicts ‘Obamacare’ won’t be repealed

WASHINGTON (AP) — For- “Republicans never ever ised numerous times to re- a repair, a replacement, or group responded to Boeh-
mer House Speaker John agree on health care,” peal and replace Obam- something else.” ner over Twitter, saying:
Boehner predicted on Boehner said. Congressio- acare in full, and even pre- “His point was that the pro- “We made a promise to
Thursday that a full re- nal Republicans are “go- sided over a 2013 govern- cess of doing it from start to the American people. The
peal and replacement of ing to fix Obamacare — I ment shutdown aimed at finish will not be an instan- Freedom Caucus remains
“Obamacare” is “not go- shouldn’t call it repeal-and- taking money away from taneous one, and I think 100% committed to full re-
ing to happen.” replace, because it’s not the law. Boehner spokes- that’s already been borne peal & replace.”
The Ohio Republican, who going to happen,” he said. man Dave Schnittger con- out by recent develop- House Republicans aim to
was forced out by con- “Most of the framework of firmed the accuracy of the ments,” Schnittger said. roll out legislation in com-
servatives in 2015, said he the Affordable Care Act ... remarks reported by Politico However, Boehner’s com- ing weeks to replace major
started laughing when he that’s going to be there.” but said they omitted some ments seemed to strength- elements of the Affordable
heard President Donald Boehner spoke at a health context. He said Boehner en the resolve of the House Care Act with a new system
Trump and Republicans care conference in Or- is confident Republicans Freedom Caucus, the involving tax credits, health
promise swift action on un- lando, Florida. His remarks “will right the many wrongs group of conservatives who savings accounts and high
doing and replacing the were reported by Politico. of Obamacare, whether caused him endless trouble risk pools, but crucial details
health law. As speaker, Boehner prom- your preference is to call it when he was speaker. The remain unknown.q