Kansas City Star: On abortion, Missouri senators move toward the sane center, by Barb Shelly (editorial page columnist):
There’s been some good research in recent years that shows thatpoliticians tend to be pulled toward the fringes on issues, while mostAmericans dwell closer to the center. In my observation, this holds most true for state legislators.
Closeted in places like Jefferson City and Topeka, the people whomake laws and set policy for the state live in a world apart. Theyrarely have the close constituent connections that, say, a city councilmember does. The public generally has only a vague idea of what thesefolks are doing.
Ah, but the interest groups know. They keep score, and they let their clout be known at election time.
In no case has this been more true than the grip with which the anti-abortion group, Missouri Right to Life, has enjoyed over the state’s General Assembly. For Republican lawmakers, a Missouri Right to Life endorsement has been regarded as a must-have in a primary race.
But as The Star’s Jefferson City correspondent Kit Wagar points out in a story today, Missouri Right to Life appears to have overplayed its hand. Republican lawmakers who are very opposed to abortion have been disobeying the activist group’s marching order.
“Right to Life” chapters in other states, including Michigan, exercise this same grip over their state legislatures (a fact that I find often surprises people).