Democrats respond after House Republicans silence reproductive rights supporters

JEFFERSON CITY - In a astounding breach of House protocol and a complete rebuke of our long-established legislative tradition, the public comment portion of the April 9 hearing of the House Committee on Children and Families was abruptly cut off by the committee's chairwoman, Eureka Republican Holly Jones.

House Minority Leader Ashley Aune speaks alongside her Democratic colleagues at the 103rd General Assembly's opening day press conference on January 8, 2025.

“Not content to strip Missourians of their voter-approved reproductive rights under the state constitution, House Republicans denied scores of people who packed a Capitol hearing room on Wednesday of their right to be heard," said House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, D-Kansas City. "This is injustice will not be tolerate."

The resolution under consideration, House Joint Resolution 73, was and is arguably the most controversial piece of legislation being considered this year, as it repeals a constitutional amendment that was supported by a majority of Missourians on the 2024 ballot.

“After allowing testimony from handful of people on House Joint Resolution 73, the chair of the House Children and Families Committee arbitrarily declared that the remaining witnesses could only state their name and position on the legislation," Aune said. "After many understandably objected to being silenced, the chair ordered security to clear the room."

“If Republicans don’t want Missouri citizens to pack hearing rooms to defend their constitutional rights, then they shouldn’t schedule hearings on legislation to take away those rights," Aune continued. "Despotic actions to shut down dissent will not work. If anything, they will mobilize more Missourians to stand up for their rights and demand their voices be heard.”