Kansas Senate Sends Bill With Abortion Limits to Gov Sebelius, Veto Expected 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 4, 2008
Topeka, KS (LifeNews.com) — The Kansas Senate passed a bill with several components to limit abortions and has sent the measure to pro-abortion Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who is expected to veto it. While the Kansas House approved the legislation on a veto-proof majority, the Senate vote was 25-13 for the bill — just two votes shy of an override.
House lawmakers approved the pro-life measure on a strong 84 to 40 vote, with one pro-life legislator absent from the proceedings.
The legislation would provide for better enforcement of the late-term abortion laws there and reduce teen abortions.
The measure covers 17 areas of abortion law meant to limit the number of abortions, give women more information and protect parental rights.
Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran told AP the governor will have to review the legislation before deciding whether to veto it or sign it into law.
The measure includes the Teen Protection Act, which the Kansas House approved in 2006 on a bipartisan vote.
It goes after people who sexually abuse teenagers and take them for abortions to cover up their crimes. As a result, the bill makes judges in parental notice bypass hearings become mandatory abuse reporters.
The measure also requires abortion businesses to check IDs of minors and companions, report child sexual abuse to state officials, report incest to law enforcement, and notify the custodial parent of a pregnant minor’s intended abortion.
That, and other provisions, prompted Kansans for Life to support the measure.
"It is gratifying to know that three-fourths of the Kansas House and over half the Senate believe it’s time to put the interests of young women above those of sexual predators and the abortionists who cover for them," KFL director Mary Kay Culp told LifeNews.com after the vote.
"The real test will be to see how many will vote to override the expected veto by the Governor, and we’ll be working hard on that," Culp added.
Veto-proof status of the Senate vote became uncertain because of one pro-life senator’s absence from illness, and another senator who passed up the opportunity to vote.
Culp said the bill is "so reasonable" that, if it also passes the Senate by a veto-proof margin, Sebelius "may have a hard time vetoing it."
"But, given her ties to bill opponent, late-term abortionist George Tiller, it could certainly happen," Culp added.
Kansas has been a hotbed of controversy with a Planned Parenthood center and a late-term abortion practitioner charged with violating the laws, and state officials accused of not holding them accountable.
The bill also includes a provision requiring abortion practitioners to allow women an opportunity to see an ultrasound of their unborn child — something frequently left out of pre-abortion counseling sessions.
According to KFL, senators voting for the pro-life bill included: Apple, Barnett, Barone, Brownlee, Bruce, Donovan, Emler, Gilstrap, Huelskamp, Jordan, Journey, Lee, Lynn, McGinn, Morris, Ostmeyer, Petersen, Pine, Pyle, Derek Schmidt, Schodorf, Taddiken, Umbarger, Wagle, Wilson.
Voting No were: Allen, Betts, Brungardt, Francisco, Goodwin, Haley, Hensley, Kelly, Reitz, Vicki Schmidt, Steineger, Vratil, Wysong
ACTION: urge Governor Sebelius to sign the bill. Find contact info at https://www.governor.ks.gov/contact.htm
Related web sites:
Kansans for Life – https://www.kfl.org
Kansas legislature – https://www.kslegislature.org
