English only driver’s license exams and abortion ban in Missouri

This may seem like an odd requirement, but currently an individual in Missouri has the option to take the Missouri driving test in 11 different languages and also have an interpreter available. Especially considering that, in 2008 Missourians made English the state’s official language for all formal proceedings by a margin of 89%. If that isn’t a mandate, I’m not sure what would be! Doesn’t it stand to reason if we made English our official language, our tests should be administered in English? I think so.

While diversity is a proud part of our heritage and should continue to be in our future, I don’t believe we are compromising anything by requiring a standard language for all motorists in Missouri. For instance, someone who cannot communicate in English during a routine traffic stop or during an emergency situation on a major roadway could potentially cause serious harm to other motorists.

In addition, a great deal of access is allotted to individuals who have a driver’s license. Some individuals will use a driver’s licenses to get all kinds of government services that they could not otherwise, such as a forged birth certificate or social security card and then receive state welfare services.

In the Missouri House we have a strong majority of elected officials who are proud to support the pro-life cause. This majority is made up of both Republicans and Democrats. Together we are working to achieve another great victory for the rights of the unborn in Missouri. House Bill 213 would ban late-term abortions. It specifies that no abortion of a "viable" unborn child can be performed or induced except for the health of the mother. A child less than 20 months old is not considered "viable." In the case of a child more than 20 months old, the baby is considered viable unless a doctor performs a checkup and signs off that the child is not viable.

A doctor who signed that a child was not viable when it actually was would be guilty of a class C felony, subject to severe fines and at least one year in jail. Further, the doctor would have his license to practice medicine suspended for three years, and any facility where the procedure was performed could lose its license.

While this bill would still allow for abortions where a doctor considered a mother’s life to be in danger, over 92% of abortions are performed for social or "other" reasons. Less than 1% of abortions are performed because the mother’s life is in danger. Our efforts this week will hopefully lead to the protection of even more life in Missouri.