The malicious creativity of Kansas and Missouri lawmakers is boundless when it comes to interfering with the right of women to obtain abortions.
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Monday appropriately vetoed a bill that proposed shocking intrusions into a woman’s privacy and authority to make her own medical decisions.
Siblings, parents, grandparents and spouses of pregnant woman could seek court orders to stop abortions after the 21st week of pregnancy. The bill gives those same individuals broad leeway to sue doctors in the aftermath of abortions.
It also would make it easier for county and district attorneys to gain access to medical records.
And any group with as few as 10 people could sue the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, challenging its annual report of abortion statistics.
Supporters of this proposal, led by Rep. Lance Kinzer, an Olathe Republican, have couched it as protection against women being coerced into having abortions.
But proponents have presented no reliable data that coercion is widespread. The real motive is to ease the way for anti-abortion activists to harass providers and get their hands on sensitive medical records.
Members of the House and Senate should uphold the governor’s veto.
In Missouri, the House has passed a bill that would place more pointless restrictions on abortion providers and on women seeking the procedure.
The Missouri bill also takes up the issue of coercion, the talking point in vogue among abortion opponents.
The bill defines coercion too broadly and could leave doctors reluctant to perform abortions because of unnecessary legal complexities.
In fact, the House’s new provisions seem designed to intimidate doctors.
The Senate should slam the door on this intrusive piece of legislation.










Since when is providing all available information an intrusion on someone's rights?
What's wrong with telling a woman no one can MAKE her have an abortion? Or there are organizations that will help her?
Women should have the right to choose by examining ALL information available in this day and age. Otherwise, we're saying 'you're too stupid to assimilate this information and make an intelligent decision'. It's a slap in the face.
A fetus is a tiny HUMAN! Technology shows us that. Even if we were not sure when life begins, should we not err on the side of life and treat it with the utmost respect as a (possible) fellow human? Human rights SHOULD begin in the womb. They do if the mother is killed while pregnant - what a double standard!
I'm glad Missouri passed the bill REALLY supporting women's rights! TELL WOMEN THE TRUTH, WE CAN HANDLE IT!!!!
Statistically 93% of women regret their abortion.