Kansas GOP rolls out newly abortion restrictions after voters rejected the same restrictions last year
21 January 2023
Why I'm becoming an abortion provider now
Republican lawmakers in the state of Kansas are introducing new pieces of legislation in hopes of implementing more restrictive measures for abortions.
According to Yahoo! News, Republican lawmakers are kicking off the new legislative session with a proposal to roll back reproductive rights. While the majority of the party's lawmakers have lauded the initiative, the report highlights how the majority of Kansas voters have opposing views on abortion.
Per the news outlet: "Senate Bill 65, the new GOP proposal, 'Nothing shall prevent any city or county from regulating abortion within its boundaries as long as the regulation is at least as stringent as or more stringent than imposed by state law. In such cases, the more stringent local regulation shall control.'”
GOP state Sen. Chase Blasi, who introduced and sponsored the bill, insists abortion is a major concern in his district.
“The fight for life continues in Kansas,” said Blasi. “In my district, I have many constituents that are very concerned still about the unborn in our state, and so I introduced legislation today to be had with local constituents, local governments.”
Current laws in the state of Kansas allow for abortions to be carried out legally until the 22nd week of pregnancy. However, the news outlet notes "there are additional restrictions on providers and funding, and minors generally need permission from both parents or legal guardians to undergo the procedure."
Abortion is currently legal in Kansas until the 22nd week of pregnancy. There are additional restrictions on providers and funding, and minors generally need permission from both parents or legal guardians to undergo the procedure.
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In a statement written to Yahoo! News, Planned Parenthood of Great Plains Votes spokesperson Anamarie Rebori Simmons offered criticized the bill.
“The irony of this bill is too much," she said.
“The party that tried to remove fundamental protections from the state constitution didn’t get the outcome they wanted when Kansans overwhelmingly supported abortion access,” Simmons wrote. “This is an attempt to blatantly disregard the will of the people. Abortion rights won in a landslide, including in the home county of the bill’s sponsor. Politicians serve as the voice of the people in the Legislature, and Republican lawmakers should know better than to silence those they represent.”