A Kentucky Senate committee advanced a pro-life bill Monday to declare that there is no “right” to abort unborn babies in their state.
The vote in the Senate State and Local Government Committee was 9-1, and the pro-life legislation now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
The “Yes for Life” amendment, state House Bill 91, would amend the Kentucky Constitution to include the following language: “To protect human life, nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion.”
The amendment passed the state House by a strong majority in February. To be added to the constitution, it also must pass the Senate and then be approved by voters on the ballot.
Kentucky Right to Life encouraged people to call their state senators and urge them to pass the bill.
ACTION ALERT: Contact Kentucky Senate lawmakers online or by phone at 1-800-372-7181 or 502-564-8100.
“We are in the last days of the 2021 regular session,” the pro-life organization told supporters in an email. “Your call is important at this time. With a constitutional amendment, Kentucky will be in a position to stand against ongoing challenges from the current administration in Washington.”
WUKY News reports pro-life lawmakers said the bill will prevent activist judges from “inventing a state constitutional right to abortion.” In other states, judges have done this and their rulings have been used to force taxpayers to fund abortions and block pro-life laws.
Though WUKY claimed the amendment does not include an exception for the life of the mother, the amendment clearly states that its purpose is to “protect human life,” which includes the mother as well as her unborn child.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky criticized the amendment, arguing that “every person’s situation is different and we should respect that this is their decision to make.” Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana and Kentucky also slammed state lawmakers for paving “the way for a total ban” on abortions.
The amendment would not immediately ban abortions in Kentucky because of Roe v. Wade, but it would protect the state from pro-abortion court rulings.
In several states, courts have found a so-called “right to abortion” in their state constitutions. The rulings have been used to force taxpayers to fund abortions and restrict the state legislature from passing even minor, common sense abortion restrictions.
In 2018, West Virginia voters passed a similar pro-life constitutional amendment after decades of being forced by a court ruling to fund elective abortions with their tax dollars. Kansas lawmakers also passed a pro-life amendment in January after the Kansas Supreme Court found a so-called “right to abortion” in their state constitution in 2019. The amendment is scheduled for voters’ approval on the August 2022 ballot.
The Iowa legislature is considering a similar pro-life amendment this winter.
ACTION ALERT: Contact Kentucky Senate lawmakers online or by phone at 1-800-372-7181 or 502-564-8100.
