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Missouri governor vetoes 72-hour abortion wait

By WTOP Staff

DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed legislation Wednesday that would have required a 72-hour wait for women seeking abortions, asserting that legislators showed a “callous disregard for women” by granting no exception for rape and incest victims.

Republican legislators quickly vowed to override the Democratic governor’s decision, and they may have the numbers to do so. The GOP-led Legislature approved the plan earlier this year only one vote shy of the supermajority needed to undo a veto.

The stricken measure would have made Missouri just the third state nationally to require a three-day waiting period for abortions, along with South Dakota and Utah. Utah’s law includes an exception for rape and incest victims, and people younger than 14.

Nixon had allowed prior Missouri abortion restrictions to take effect, but drew a line with the longer waiting period..

“This extreme and disrespectful measure would unnecessarily prolong the suffering of rape and incest victims and jeopardize the health and wellbeing of women,” Nixon said in a written statement.

Missouri law currently requires a 24-hour wait between when a woman consults a physician and receives an abortion, with an exception only for medical emergencies. During debate on the bill to triple the waiting period, Republican senators defeated a Democratic amendment that would have added a rape and incest exception.

Nixon said Wednesday that the failure to include those exceptions “demonstrates a callous disregard for women who find themselves in horrific circumstances.”

Majority Republicans had several members absent but picked up support from nine Democrats when the House gave final approval to the bill 111-39, getting two votes more than would be needed for an override. The 22-9 Senate vote fell one vote short of that threshold, but one Republican senator was absent.

“I’m confident that we’ve got more than ample numbers to override the governor’s veto,” said Rep. Kevin Elmer, a Republican from Nixa who sponsored the legislation.

In a memo to lawmakers, Nixon wrote that the bill appears to be based on a “paternalistic presumption that rape and incest victims are somehow unable to grasp the horror that has befallen them, and that government must force them to take more time to come to grips with their plight.”

Sen. David Sater, one of the sponsors of the measure, had argued against the rape and incest exception. He said Wednesday that Nixon was effectively placing a lower value on the life of a child conceived through rape than one conceived consensually but perhaps unintentionally.

“They’re both equal in God’s eyes. Those children are both of equal importance,” said Sater, a Republican from Cassville.

Missouri law already requires doctors to provide a variety of written information to women wanting abortions and to give them the opportunity to hear the fetus’ heartbeat on an ultrasound.

Nixon cited those existing provisions while asserting that a longer waiting period would serve no purpose “other than to create emotional and financial hardships for women.” He said the longer wait also could increase the risk of complications for women. Because of those concerns, Nixon said he would have vetoed the bill even if it had a rape-and-incest exception.

There were 5,624 abortions performed in Missouri in 2012, the latest year for which state figures are available, marking a continued decline in recent years.

Missouri currently has only one clinic performing elective abortions, a Planned Parenthood affiliate in the St. Louis area. Planned Parenthood also performs abortions at a Kansas City area clinic located in a Kansas suburb.

Paula Gianino, president and CEO of the political arm of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, praised the governor’s veto. She said the legislation “would block access to safe, legal abortion and make it more difficult for women to get the care they need.”

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Abortion bill is HB1307.

Online:

Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov

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Follow David A. Lieb at: http://www.twitter.com/DavidALieb

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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