Governor signs additional abortion restrictions

? Gov. Matt Blunt signed legislation Thursday placing further restrictions on abortion, and Planned Parenthood said it filed a lawsuit challenging the measure.

The bill, passed in a special legislative session called to address the issue, allows lawsuits against people who help teens get abortions in violation of Missouri’s parental consent law.

The bill’s supporters say they are trying to stop people from helping teens get abortions in Illinois, which has no parental consent law.

The legislation also disqualifies anyone with a financial interest in an abortion – for instance, people who work or volunteer for abortion clinics – from helping minors seek a court exemption to the parental consent law.

“The law would prohibit us, also family members, clergy people, health care providers, from giving young women information about their options if they’re pregnant,” said Peter Brownlie, president of Planned Parenthood’s Kansas and Mid-Missouri chapter.