Birther bill advances in Missouri House of Representatives

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The conspiracy theorists who believe President Obama was not born in the United States are just not backing down. The latest attempt at a “birther bill” has advanced in the Missouri House of Representatives. It would require candidates for the White House to present birth certificates to get on the state ballot. The Huffington Post reports

On a voice vote, the Republican-controlled Missouri House of Representatives gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill requiring presidential and vice presidential candidates to produce a birth certificate that would appear on the state’s ballot.

The bill passed following an emotional debate on the House floor during which Republicans denied charges of racism and refuted accusations that the legislation targeted President Barack Obama. The bill — which would take effect in time for the 2016 presidential election — is headed for a final vote Wednesday. Under House rules, a preliminary voice vote is taken followed by a roll call vote. But the Missouri Senate is unlikely to hear the bill in the time remaining in the legislative session, and Gov. Jay Nixon (D) has indicated he’d veto it.

The bill’s main sponsor, Rep. Lyle Rowland (R-Cedarcreek), said he was sponsoring the bill in order to provide verification to the state’s secretary of state of candidates’ eligibility. The measure is needed to provide another level of verification, Rowland said during questioning from Democrats.

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