Posted on Aug 4, 2022
Kansas voters overwhelmingly say 'No' to stripping abortion rights from the state constitution
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Kansas voters rejected a proposed state constitutional amendment Tuesday that would have stripped away the right to an abortion — marking a stand for abortion rights in a heavily Republican state in the first vote since the fall of Roe v. Wade.
The vote, for now, preserves access to abortion in Kansas and serves as a rebuke to the regional trend significantly restricting abortion access after the federal right was overturned — and that has made Kansas an abortion destination.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this summer raised the stakes in Kansas and supercharged the political fight that ignited protests, contentious campaigns and a flood of out-of-state campaign money.
Supporters argued the amendment was necessary to correct what they see as the Kansas Supreme Court’s overreach by striking down some of the state’s previous abortion restrictions in 2019. Opponents contended that the amendment would set up state lawmakers to pursue a total ban like other Republican-dominated states.
The vote, for now, preserves access to abortion in Kansas and serves as a rebuke to the regional trend significantly restricting abortion access after the federal right was overturned — and that has made Kansas an abortion destination.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this summer raised the stakes in Kansas and supercharged the political fight that ignited protests, contentious campaigns and a flood of out-of-state campaign money.
Supporters argued the amendment was necessary to correct what they see as the Kansas Supreme Court’s overreach by striking down some of the state’s previous abortion restrictions in 2019. Opponents contended that the amendment would set up state lawmakers to pursue a total ban like other Republican-dominated states.
Kansas voters overwhelmingly say 'No' to stripping abortion rights from the state constitution
Posted from news.stlpublicradio.org
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We must make abortion legal under federal law. Leaving the decision to the states is not the way. Good for Kansas nonetheless.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."But Kansas does have some of the tougher abortion restrictions in the country, including limiting abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy to only cases where the pregnant woman’s life is in danger and the requirement of an ultrasound before a procedure. It also has a 24-hour waiting period and requires parental consent for minors.
Those restrictions would have remained in place whether the amendment passed or failed. The amendment simply would give state legislators the power to put ever tighter restrictions in place — including a ban that wouldn’t have been possible without this summer's U.S. Supreme Court ruling and a change to the Kansas Constitution.
Meanwhile, Republican State Sen. Mark Steffen said he wants legislation to recognize “life starting at conception,” according to the Kansas Reflector. The Value Them Both group backing the amendment strictly avoided discussing what sort of restrictions might be put in place during the run-up to Tuesday’s vote.
The Value Them Both coalition was also mum on the topic. When Steve Kraske of KCUR’s “Up To Date” pressed Spokesperson Danielle Underwood on the issue, she would not say what she or the coalition wanted to come next.
“It doesn’t really matter what my opinion is,” Underwood said. “It matters what the opinion of the people of Kansas is.”
But at least one bill banning abortion was introduced in the Kansas Legislature. Lawmakers did not act on the bill before adjourning for the rest of 2022.
Alesha Doan, an abortion policy expert at the University of Kansas, said work by abortion opponents over the last 30 years has had one goal in mind — a full-blown abortion ban in Kansas.
“That’s what this amendment is designed to do,” Doan said. “And for a politician to not answer that is also disingenuous.”
..."But Kansas does have some of the tougher abortion restrictions in the country, including limiting abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy to only cases where the pregnant woman’s life is in danger and the requirement of an ultrasound before a procedure. It also has a 24-hour waiting period and requires parental consent for minors.
Those restrictions would have remained in place whether the amendment passed or failed. The amendment simply would give state legislators the power to put ever tighter restrictions in place — including a ban that wouldn’t have been possible without this summer's U.S. Supreme Court ruling and a change to the Kansas Constitution.
Meanwhile, Republican State Sen. Mark Steffen said he wants legislation to recognize “life starting at conception,” according to the Kansas Reflector. The Value Them Both group backing the amendment strictly avoided discussing what sort of restrictions might be put in place during the run-up to Tuesday’s vote.
The Value Them Both coalition was also mum on the topic. When Steve Kraske of KCUR’s “Up To Date” pressed Spokesperson Danielle Underwood on the issue, she would not say what she or the coalition wanted to come next.
“It doesn’t really matter what my opinion is,” Underwood said. “It matters what the opinion of the people of Kansas is.”
But at least one bill banning abortion was introduced in the Kansas Legislature. Lawmakers did not act on the bill before adjourning for the rest of 2022.
Alesha Doan, an abortion policy expert at the University of Kansas, said work by abortion opponents over the last 30 years has had one goal in mind — a full-blown abortion ban in Kansas.
“That’s what this amendment is designed to do,” Doan said. “And for a politician to not answer that is also disingenuous.”
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This is as it should be - States making the decisions for their State. this should have ALWAYS been a state issue to decide. The Federal Government should NOT dictate to the states or individuals. how the ACA survived constitutional scrutiny with so many mandated coverages is beyond my comprehension. What use is maternity coverage to me? or my wife seeing as she is post menopause? yet , we are required by law to have this coverage.
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