By 4 p.m. Monday, some legislators will be seated in the Missouri House chambers for a "technical" session to answer Gov. Eric Greitens' call for their second special legislative session in a month.
Greitens last week announced his plan to call lawmakers back to Jefferson City to focus on protecting pregnancy resource centers and to implement "common-sense health and safety standards" in abortion clinics.
In his official proclamation on Wednesday, the governor listed 15 different new laws, or changes or modifications to existing laws, the Legislature should address during the special session, including redefining "abortion facilities," requiring those facilities to prove anyone performing an abortion is licensed to practice medicine in Missouri, requiring those facilities to comply with safety inspections and to have "plans for dealing with complications resulting from certain abortions," add an emergency clause to all bills passed during the special session so they can become law as soon as Greitens signs them - and to work on any other issues he recommends after the session begins.
The governor also wants lawmakers to pass a law, targeting a St. Louis City ordinance, that "preempts a political subdivision from enacting a law or policy that adversely affects the legal rights" of people based on their views on abortion.
In announcing his support for the special session, state Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, said: "The overreach by an activist federal judge and the Board of Aldermen in the City of St. Louis raises this issue to the need of immediate action by the General Assembly.
"(U.S. District Court) Judge Howard Sachs' decision to abolish common sense regulatory standards - that are required in other medical facilities in Missouri - puts the health of women in serious danger."
In his special session proclamation, Greitens also pointed to Sachs' ruling, finalized on May 2, as being "against common sense health and safety standards for abortion clinics."
Last November, two Planned Parenthood groups asked the federal courts to block Missouri laws that required abortion facilities to be regulated as "ambulatory surgical centers" and mandating doctors performing abortions have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the abortion clinic.
The laws had resulted in abortion clinics being closed, including Planned Parenthood's Columbia facility - leaving Planned Parenthood's St. Louis facility as the state's only abortion location.
Sachs said his ruling was required by last year's 5-3 U.S. Supreme Court decision in a Texas case during which similar laws were considered unconstitutional.
"Laws that affect the abortion rights of Missouri women, guaranteed by constitutional rulings, are being denied on a daily basis in irreparable fashion," the judge wrote. "The public interest clearly favors prompt relief."
Almost a year ago, the nation's highest court ruled Texas' laws - which had the same requirements as the Missouri laws Sachs ruled on - placed a substantial obstacle in the path of women seeking an abortion, constitute an undue burden on abortion access, and therefore violate the Constitution.
State Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City - who is an attorney - said Greitens "absolutely" was right to call the special session.
"Protecting women's health and the First Amendment rights of alternative to abortion agencies is worth the cost," Barnes told the News Tribune.
And, in his weekly column, titled "Why Every Missourian Should Support This Special Session," Barnes analyzed Sachs' ruling that blocked Missouri's current laws.
"Abortion rights supporters often argue that it must be kept legal in all circumstances so that it can be regulated, (and) that restrictions would lead to 'back alley abortions' where women are not safe," he wrote. "Unfortunately, by striking all abortion facility regulations, the effect of (Sachs') order puts patient safety at risk if the Legislature does not take swift action.
"Whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, everyone should agree that medical treatments should be provided in safe and sterile facilities."
Republican lawmakers and advocacy groups stand by Greitens' decision to push through legislation they say will protect the lives of the unborn and women's health.
House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, noted in a statement last week that Missouri is a "strongly pro-life" state, and said: "The members of the Missouri House are ready to advance policy solutions that will continue to make Missouri a state where women's health is a priority and precious, innocent lives are protected."
But former state Rep. Stephen Webber, D-Columbia, and now chairman of the state Democratic Party, countered: "Holding an expensive emergency legislative session to threaten women's access to health care is not only an unnecessary government intrusion into private sexual and reproductive health decisions, it's exactly the type of establishment politics that's driving unprecedented levels of grassroots enthusiasm."
Vitae Foundation is a local nonprofit that uses mass media campaigns to reach women facing unplanned pregnancies by using right-brain research to promote its messages.
Martha Schrieber, the foundation's communications director, said they are encouraged by governor's call to action.
"When we hear Gov. Eric Greitens supports the value of human life, we are encouraged because this is a necessary discussion and the type of value we hope to see embraced in American culture," Schrieber said.
Greitens' news release announcing the special session included supporting comments from other pro-life advocates.
Susan Klein, legislative liaison for Missouri Right to Life, said: "Gov. Greitens has made a call (that) would allow legislators to pass a life-saving bill to protect women, unborn babies and reaffirm our religious liberties so that Pregnancy Resource Centers and Faith Communities from all denominations are not forced to participate in abortion."
John Yeats, the Missouri Baptist Convention's executive director, added Greitens' "appropriate action is urgently needed because the lives of innocent children are at stake and cannot wait for the next regular session."
But pro-choice advocates feel the governor's call will do the complete opposite, including restricting women's constitutionally guaranteed health care options.
Alison Dreith, executive director at NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri, said: "Make no mistake about it, the intent behind the governor's actions is to shame women for their personal medical decisions and make basic reproductive health care harder to access."