Oct 2, 2019 / 15:06 pm
The Kansas legislature is attempting to force a statewide referendum on abortion after the state's Supreme Court declared it a constitutional right, striking down pro-life legislation earlier this year.
In April, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the state constiution included a fundamental right to have an abortion, and blocked a law that who have banned dilation and evacuation abortions. Dilation and evacuation is the most common procedure for second-trimester abortions.
In response to that decision, on Oct. 1, a legislative committee began two days of hearings to consider a state-wide referendum to amend the constitution, making it explicit that abortion is not a right and the court cannot interpret the constitution to say it is.
With both pro-life and pro-abortion advocates anticipating a possible change to the Supreme Court's current settlement in Roe v Wade, focus has moved to the local level in preparation for a possible broadening of the scope for state action.