Judge rules Missouri abortion rights ballot initiatives can move forward

A Cole County judge ordered Attorney General Andrew Bailey to approve Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick’s cost estimate on ballot items aiming to expand abortion access in Missouri.

Bailey said he would appeal Judge Jon Beetem’s decision.

At issue are a series of ballot initiatives that seek to once again legalize abortion in Missouri. While the details of the initiatives differ, they effectively would repeal a ban on abortion that was put in place in Missouri with the fall of Roe v. Wade.

As auditor, Fitzpatrick is required to come up with an estimate, called a fiscal note, on whether an initiative costs the state money or brings in revenue. Fitzpatrick submitted a fiscal note that stated the initiatives would have a minimal financial impact.

But Bailey refused to sign off on the fiscal notes, contending that the initiatives could cost billions of dollars in lost federal Medicaid funding. Fitzpatrick said that argument is not valid and that no state agency argued that the initiatives would lead to the loss of Medicaid funding.

The standoff between Fitzpatrick and Bailey meant that proponents of the ballot items couldn’t gather signatures, which prompted Dr. Anna Fitz-James, who submitted the initiatives, to file a lawsuit.