TOPEKA – An attempt to override the veto of a late-term abortion bill failed Thursday evening in the Senate.
The proposal, House substitute for Senate Bill 218, would have allowed women and their immediate family to sue doctors in civil court if they thought a late term abortion was performed illegally.
With a vote of 25-13, the measure did not receive the two-thirds majority of votes needed to override a veto.
The change to the law regulating abortions on pregnancies after the 21st week gave women a recourse if they thought the law had been broken if the district or county attorney in their area would not file the suit, said Sen. Mary Pilcher Cook, R-Shawnee, who made the motion.
The bill also would have required doctors performing late-term abortions to provide more detailed descriptions of why the procedures were necessary. The move was aimed at Wichita abortion provider Dr. George Tiller, one of the few physicians in the country who performs late-term abortions.
The veto was one of former Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ last actions before she stepped down to become Health and Human Services secretary.
The override attempt taken at about 7 p.m., one the chamber’s last action before leaving for the night. The bill is now dead.
3 Comments
Why wasn’t the headline “…Failed by ONE vote!” Not mentioned, you have to do the math yourself to figure it out. Seems to me that an issue as topical as this, that comes within ONE vote (either way) is worthy of note.
Actually, it was 2 votes.
Great. The Senate fiddles while Kansas burns.
Dear Senator:
I don’t want you to enact laws that reflect your interpretation of your religious beliefs. I want you out of the bedroom, out of a woman’s reproductive business, and pay attention to the other issues that face Kansans who live in urban and rural areas. How about starting with a stronger open meetings law and open records reform?
While I have your attention, I’d also request a 0.25% sales tax to fund parks and public lands and allow the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife & Parks to accept donations of land and hold title to those lands, in Trust for the people of Kansas. Pretty radical, but that’s how Missouri does it.
Cordially,
Frank_Lingo