Two statewide petitions approved for circulation

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan approved two initiative petitions for statewide circulation, the first step toward getting on the November 2010 ballot.

The first petition was submitted by Missouri Roundtable for Life, a 501(c)4 nonprofit group formed in 2006 to oppose the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative.

The group's new petition looks to amend the Missouri Constitution by making it illegal for state or local governments to give funding for "certain research and services, including abortions not medically necessary to save the life of the mother, abortion services, and certain types of stem cell research currently allowed under Missouri law," according to the petition language.

Carnahan's fiscal analysis of the petition says it could have "significant negative fiscal impact" on several government groups by putting federal grants for research and medical assistance programs in jeopardy.

The second petition was submitted by Personhood Missouri, a nonprofit group encouraging government to recognize the beginning of life as conception rather than birth.

The group's petition would amend the state constitution to define the life of a "person" as starting with the beginning of biological development and offer such people constitutional rights, along with access to and equal protection by the courts.

Carnahan's fiscal analysis estimates no cost or savings based on the proposal, though it said some entities could incur unknown costs from court actions and providing program benefits for the unborn.

For a constitutional amendment petition to be put on the ballot, it must receive signatures from registered voters equal to 8 percent of the total votes in the 2008 governor's election in six of the state's congressional districts. Signatures are due May 2, 2010.