Rep. Ron Hicks (R-MO), who generally opposes abortion, was captured on camera discussing a controversial anti-abortion bill penned by his colleague, state Rep. Rick Brattin. The bill would require a woman to obtain written permission from the man who impregnated her if she seeks an abortion – a bill that makes no exception for victims of domestic violence. Hicks is on camera saying he’s concerned because it would infringe on a woman’s bodily autonomy.

It’s become common practice for Missouri lawmakers to meet at restaurants and country clubs to discuss official business. A progressive advocacy group, Progress Missouri, was in attendance and filmed and posted the meeting.

Hicks said (emphasis mine), “There is a piece of legislation we’re actually watching. I wanna see how it turns out. That’s the one about father’s rights to a woman who’s pregnant with a child. I can totally get it and understand it; I just don’t know how you would do something like that. I mean bottom line, it’s still her body. How do you do something like that? I’m curious to see who says yes, who says no. I’ve been asking certain people outside the Dome what they think and so far they don’t like it. Male and female, for that matter. None of the women like that idea at all.”

Hicks then explained that when his wife found out about the bill, she wasn’t happy. “I know when my wife saw it she was like, ‘What?’ and I was like, ‘Oh.’”

He said he promised his wife he would track the bill’s progress.

“When your wife goes, ‘What is this?’ and it has something to do with legislation and the bedroom, you pay attention,” Hicks said.

Soon after the video was made public, the state speaker banned legislators from conducting offsite meetings.

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