Gov. Kelly Blocks Gender-Identity, Abortion Bills in Kansas
TL/DR –
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has vetoed three bills related to health care and abortion rights. She rejected a bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors, arguing that it constituted an attack on parental rights. She also vetoed a bill that would create a felony crime for coercing someone to have an abortion, citing vague language and potential for intrusion into private conversations.
Kansas Governor Vetoes Transgender and Abortion Bills
Kansas Governor, Laura Kelly, vetoed several bills that aimed to limit healthcare access for transgender youths and increase restrictions on abortion rights. These include Senate Bill 233, which aimed to prohibit gender-affirming treatment for transgender minors, and laws that would criminalize coercing someone into an abortion and broaden abortion surveys.
Kelly’s decision was rooted in her belief that these are personal decisions to be made between individuals, their families, and their physicians. She called the transgender care ban an “unwarranted attack” based on distorted political beliefs.
She further criticized the idea of penalizing medical professionals for supporting the health needs of their patients, as suggested by the proposed bill. According to the bill, physicians who don’t comply could be sued and their professional liability insurance would not cover these litigation costs. “This legislation tramples parental rights,” said Kelly.
Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, both Republicans, publically denounced the governor’s vetoes, vowing to seek overrides when the legislature reconvenes on April 26. Cathryn Oakley from the Human Rights Campaign labeled the transgender care ban as discriminatory and dangerous.
Abortion Coercion
Governor Kelly also rejected House Bill 2436, which aimed to create a felony crime of coercing someone into having an abortion. She raised concerns about the bill’s vague language and potential intrusion into private conversations between individuals, their families, and health care providers.
Kelly was criticized by House Republican leader Hawkins, who stated that Kelly’s veto was a radical move. Emily Wales, president of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, suggested that the bill didn’t protect Kansans from reproductive coercion.
Abortion Survey
An additional bill vetoed by Kelly sought to add numerous questions to surveys for women considering an abortion in Kansas. House Bill 2749 would have required the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to generate semi-annual reports on these expanded surveys.
Kelly described the bill as “invasive and unnecessary” and expressed objection to forcing women to disclose sensitive personal information. Wales, from Planned Parenthood, echoed these concerns, stating that the bill would violate patient privacy and cause unwarranted distress. Hawkins, however, argued that increasing numbers of abortions in Kansas warranted closer scrutiny.
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