TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly declared Thursday that a proposed anti-abortion amendment to the Kansas Constitution would return the state “to the Dark Ages” and called it a political attack on women’s rights that will hurt the state’s business climate.
Kelly, a strong supporter of abortion rights elected in 2018, has no formal role as the Republican-controlled Legislature considers putting the proposed amendment on the ballot for possible approval by voters. The measure would overturn a Kansas Supreme Court decision last year declaring access to abortion a “fundamental” right under the state’s Bill of Rights.
The Democratic governor had a Statehouse news conference a day after the Senate approved the measure and sent it to the House. It’s not clear that abortion opponents have the two-thirds majority needed there to get the measure on the ballot in the August primary election as planned.
