FROM THE GALLERY
State Legislation

Kansas Legislative Hotline: 800-432-3924.

Turnaround for the Kansas Legislature was on Saturday; a signal that things could heat up as legislators start thinking about the finish line for this year’s legislative session. A myriad of bills remain in committee; some to languish and die a slow death while others are deemed to be resurrected and discussed in committee this session. Many additional bills have been introduced in this year’s session, so our legislators face an astronomical job in sorting through these bills, understanding them, and steering them through the legislative process. As a part-time legislative body, our legislators are juggling regular jobs while in session, not to mention the fact they have to share secretaries, etc. They need your help as their constituents to help them understand your concerns – in a very real sense you are citizen lobbyists who help the legislators manage priorities while in session. We track certain bills that are part of our “concerns” and try to give you information on the bills, how to contact your legislator, committee hearings, etc. There is really no place to be angry with a legislator for not voting the way you would like when you have never expressed your concerns to him or her. It is so important that they hear from you and it’s easy to do! They are a telephone, fax machine or e-mail away, and yes, you can even use snail mail if you are intimidated by all this technology. When you exercise your freedom and your responsibility in our legislative process, you strike a bell for our free society.

Last week’s Events:
Clinic Licensing: (H Sub 2829) There have been two clinic licensing bills proposed this session; one sponsored and spearheaded by Rep. Nancy Kirk (D-Topeka), which would place regulations on all surgical services done outside of hospitals, not just abortions. This would affect some 250-300 facilities in the state with a fiscal note of $2 million. This version was opposed by the Kansas Medical Society, citing it would be too costly for doctors. In a surprise move, the original Clinic Licensing bill that passed last year but was vetoed by Governor Sebelius, was amended into HB 2829 in what is known as a “gut and go” procedure in committee. The committee approved the amendment by a vote of 10-8 which sends the bill to the floor of the House for debate. It is scheduled for debate in the House THIS WEEK.

This means the intent of the bill is completely different, now targeting abortion providers who do surgical abortions outside of hospitals. The new bill targets only abortion providers with a significantly smaller fiscal note attached. The amended version would place the regulatory responsibility upon the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) which would conduct unannounced visits to the sites and would also authorize the KDHE to close down providers that did not comply with guidelines. Presently the Board of Healing Arts, a licensing agency with little staff devoted to inspections or regulatory interventions. supervises the abortion providers. In fact, a clinic in Kansas City, Kansas was allowed to operate for months after police reports cited incredibly unsanitary and unsafe conditions at the clinic.

Read WorldNetDaily's shocking article on this clinic.

The Board of Healing Arts finally did shut down the Rajanna Clinic in KCK after it became clear that last year’s Clinic Licensing Bill would pass. Ultimately, Governor Sebelius vetoed the bill and the Legislature failed to over-ride her veto. The governor has said that she prefers that the medical community set standards and regulate them rather than the legislative branch; however, nail technicians, barbers, restaurants, and even food cooked at home for money-making projects are regulated by the government. Surgical abortion is a blind invasive procedure that does carry risk. Those who say they want abortion safe but rare should have no objection to their industry being regulated the same as a nail technician. However, Representative Kirk sees the new bill as “… sticking it to people who aren’t pro-life,” in spite of the fact that the bill’s purpose is to make the abortion procedure safer for women who choose abortion as a solution for their unplanned pregnancy. Pro-Kan-Do, abortionist George Tiller’s PAC terms the bill “Targeted Regulations against Abortion Providers – TRAP” and refers to it as “anti-choice” and “anti-woman.” They have targeted the following legislators for their folks to contact:
Eber Phelps
Ward Loyd
Deena Horst
Bob Grant
Joe Hummrickhouse
Pat Colloton
Bob Bethell
Tim Owens
Ed O’Malley
Jim Morrison
Nile Dillmore
Dale Swenson
Josh Svaty
Bonnie Sharp
Joann Pottorff

It is a good idea to contact your legislator, especially if they are one of those on the list. Ask them to protect women from unprincipled doctors who do not follow standard procedures of cleanliness and safety. Tell them that abortion providers should not be exempt from those standards merely because they provide abortions. THE BILL WILL BE DEBATED THIS WEEK IN THE HOUSE. Capitol Switchboard: 785-296-0111 or e-mail a representative by his or her last name, example: name@house.state.ks.us.

Stem-cell Research
We attended a briefing by Dr. David Prentice of the Family Research Council on stem-cell research. Dr. Prentice currently works with adult stem-cells which have already produced over 67 cures/ therapies in humans. He gave the group a quick overview of stem-cell research, both embryonic and adult, which also includes cord blood and placental stem-cells. He reviewed the process of cloning, or somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), the scientific jargon for cloning and how it produces an embryo whether it is fertilized the natural way with egg and sperm, or by inserting a body (soma) cell’s nucleus into an egg which has had its nucleus removed (SCNT). Either way, the result is a fully human zygote that eventually multiplies into a blastocyst, the stage at which embryos currently are being harvested for their stem cells. The harvesting process results in the death of the embryo. He also referred to the creation of animal/human hybrids called Chimeras. Legislation was introduced last week (HB 2952) to regulate the amount of human genome to be used in these experiments and therapies using hybridization of species.

This week’s events:

Monday:
A hearing will be held in the House Federal and State Affairs Committee on HCR 5026, which is a constitutional amendment preventing the Kansas Supreme Court from closing schools.

Final action on HCR 5033, the constitutional amendment requiring Senate confirmation of Kansas Supreme Court Justices and final action on what is known as “Scruffy’s Law,” a law dealing with increased penalties for animal cruelty.

Tuesday:
A hearing will be held before the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, Room 231 N at 10:30 a.m. on restricting sexually-oriented signs from state highways.

A briefing on stem-cell research will be given by the University of Kansas’ School of Medicine’s Barbara Atkinson before the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. KU has been approached by the Stowers Institute who promotes embryonic stem-cell research.

A hearing on SB 508 that requires human sexuality education programs, will be held before the Senate Education Committee, in Room 123-S at the Capitol.

The text of this bill:

SENATE BILL No. 508
By Committee on Education
AN ACT concerning schools; relating to human sexuality education programs; establishing the abstinence plus education act.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1.Sec. 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication in the statute book.

Presently school districts have the freedom to choose the type of sex education they shall provide to their community, but the word “comprehensive” makes this bill what it is, “Abstinence Plus Comprehensive Sex Ed.” This bill makes it mandatory for comprehensive sex education to be offered. (Another end-run around parental and local control.)

Concerned Women for America of Kansas
P. O. Box 11233
Shawnee Mission, KS 66207
Phone/Fax: 913-491-1380
Email: director@kansas.cwfa.org
Web site: kansas.cwfa.org