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Bailey Does Not Have To Hand Over Fiscal Notes For Abortion Ballot Summaries While Appealing Order To MO Supreme Court

June 27, 2023 6:15AM CDT
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Bailey Does Not Have To Hand Over Fiscal Notes For Abortion Ballot Summaries While Appealing Order To MO Supreme Court
Republican Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey speaks to reporters after taking the oath of office in Jefferson City, Mo., Jan. 3, 2023. A Kansas City Council committee will consider a resolution on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, that would designate the city as a sanctuary for people seeking or providing gender-affirming care, even as the state’s attorney general is proposing a new restrictions on the procedures for adults and children. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb, File)

(MISSOURINET) – A judge has ruled yesterday (Monday) that Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey did NOT violate an order to forward cost estimates within 24 hours for several proposed abortion ballot initiatives, because Bailey had appealed the order to the State Supreme Court. Cole County Judge Jon Beetem’s decision comes after he ruled last week that Bailey did not have the authority to withhold the fiscal notes because Bailey disagreed with the estimates. Tori Schafer (SHAY-fer) with the Missouri ACLU argued that despite appealing the ruling, Bailey was still required to turn over the fiscal notes to the Secretary of State’s office:

But the A-G’s office argued that decisions in past cases support giving Bailey an automatic stay while he appeals the original ruling, and Judge Beetem agreed. The Missouri Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case July 18th.