Missouri House Speaker navigates the will of the people and GOP opposition to Amendment 3 | Opinion
In politics, you can’t make everyone happy.
Perhaps no other elected official in this state understands this reality more than new Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson, a Republican from Lee’s Summit.
I’ve had the opportunity to share coffee with Patterson a couple of times. During the election cycle, Patterson met in person with The Star Editorial Board. We endorsed him in November’s general election to represent House District 30.
I found Patterson to be a smart, sensible, reasonable, compassionate and caring guy. A general surgeon by trade, he is the first Asian American speaker every in Missouri, and the first speaker from Jackson County in 150 years. I have few little qualms with Patterson’s conservative, yet moderate approach to governing. He will do a fine job in his new role.
But as one of the most powerful and influential people in the Missouri House of Representatives, Patterson is in what I’d call an untenable position. And my gut feeling tells me he knows this.
“I hope I’ll bring a surgeon’s calm” to the House speaker position, Patterson said during a recent meeting at Post Coffee Company in Lee’s Summit. “I think that’s what surgeons do. And I will try to make sure everyone’s voice is heard, find consensus and try to move towards that direction. That’s what I see my job as doing.”
After our conversation ended, state Rep. Ashley Aune, Missouri House Minority Leader, walked in. Aune is a Democrat who represents District 14 in the Northland area of Kansas City. She was there to meet with Patterson weeks before he was elected to the speakership. The two meet on a regular basis, Aune told me. She said she believes Patterson would continue to build a bridge between the two parties as speaker.
“My constituents sent me down to Jefferson City to get something done,” Aune said. “As a member of a superminority party, the only way I can accomplish that is if I reach across the aisle. Having a majority party leader willing to sit down and have those hard conversations is really important.”
Yes, Patterson must push his party’s agenda — which sadly and misguidedly includes undoing Amendment 3, which enshrined in the state constitution a woman’s right to choose her own reproductive health care.
At the same time, Patterson must also, as he has stated before, respect the will of nearly 52% of Missouri voters who approved Amendment 3 in November.
Good luck with that.
In my mind, navigating this difficult terrain and maintaining a delicate balance between the two will prove cumbersome for Patterson. But I cannot fault him for looking out for his own party’s interests.
During his first speech as House speaker, Patterson spoke on some of the GOP-led assembly’s main priorities for the upcoming session. Abortion restrictions were at the top of the list.
“For Missouri families, there can be no greater gift than the gift of life,” Patterson said. “That means, while we respect the will of the people, we must clarify the provisions of Amendment 3 and make Missouri the most pro-life state it can be.”
And this is where Patterson and I disagree. Missouri voters spoke loud and clear at the ballot box on where they stand on reproductive health issues. Patterson and his ilk should stand down and not continue to try to block access to abortion and contraceptives.
This is not a hit piece on Patterson. In fact, I wholeheartedly disagree with some of the criticism that Patterson has faced from fellow Republicans such as state Rep. Justin Sparks of Wildwood.
In a video announcing his failed challenge to Patterson’s bid for House Speaker, Sparks criticized Patterson’s comments on abortion.
“When asked about Amendment 3, he said that abortion bans don’t work in Missouri and we have to respect the law,” Sparks said. “That’s not what the leader of the Republican caucus should be saying, guys.” Later, Sparks added: “On Day 1, your speaker must address and tackle Amendment 3.”
Disregarding the law, the state constitution and what more than half of Missouri voters wanted is foolish.
It is my hope Patterson and the rest of the GOP understand this and abort their mission to undermine Amendment 3.
