WASHINGTON — Kansas Republicans are planning to wield their supermajority to override Gov. Kelly’s veto of an extreme abortion bill that would require people seeking abortion care to answer invasive survey questions, including why they want an abortion. This planned override is a slap in the face to Kansas voters who made history in 2022 when they became the first state post-Dobbs to vote on abortion rights. Voters rejected a proposed state constitutional amendment that would have denied the right to abortion in the state, delivering a clear mandate that reproductive freedom must be preserved. Despite this mandate from voters, Republicans have repeatedly attempted to pass legislation to undermine and criminalize abortions.
The Republican supermajority in Kansas must be broken in 2024 to put an end to this onslaught of extreme legislation and to defend Gov. Kelly’s veto pen. The House and the Senate are both on the ballot this year, and the DLCC plans to break the supermajorities to stop this crusade of attacks on fundamental freedoms.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee National Press Secretary Sam Paisley issued the following statement:
“Kansans have sent a clear message that they want their abortion rights protected, but Republicans in the legislature have attacked reproductive freedom at every turn. State Republicans are now poised to override Gov. Kelly’s veto of invasive legislation that creates undue and unnecessary burdens on patients seeking abortion care. Kansas Republicans’ extreme agenda flies in the face of the will of voters, and their unchecked power cannot continue with fundamental freedoms on the line.
“Breaking up the GOP supermajorities and defending Gov. Kelly’s veto is a priority for the DLCC in 2024. Electing champions of reproductive care to state legislatures across the country is essential as states are on the frontlines of shaping abortion access.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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