By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, Mo. – The Missouri House has rejected an attempt to resume state funding for contraception.
Wednesday's 97-to-59 vote deleted contraception and infertility treatments from the possible spending options under a $9 million budget item for public health clinics.
Republican Susan Phillips of Kansas City led the House effort to deny the funding. She said it would amount to a government endorsement of promiscuous behavior.
But others argued that by denying public funding for contraception, the state actually could encourage more abortions.
The state stopped providing funding for family planning services three years ago because of concerns about the money going to Planned Parenthood, which also offers abortions.