Kansas' anti-choice legislative circus

*Cross posted on Choice Words

Given the multitude of anti-choice ridiculousness that comes out of Kansas, I wasn’t too surprised when I read about Kansas House Bill 2737, which has been called the requisite “abortion bill” of the session.

Unlike the usual bills that propose waiting periods or parental notification (both of which are law in Kansas), this bill seems to exist only to excite people with a wedge issue since it includes ridiculous provisions the supporters can’t (I would hope) be serious about enacting.

ProKanDo CEO Julie Burkhart describes the bill as “overbroad, frighteningly vague and in some parts, unconstitutional” in her KansasCity.com piece:

For example, one provision stipulates that a relative, an elected official, a law enforcement officer, or a district attorney can file for injunctive relief to prevent a woman from obtaining reproductive health-care services. Further, a relative can file a civil suit against a practitioner after or even before a procedure has taken place. A county or district attorney from any county can gain access to private medical records regardless of whether he/she has grounds for a case. Ten or more citizens can demand a report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment if they feel they aren’t getting enough information.

Burkhart believes the bill is being used by incumbents to reaffirm their status as anti-choice legislators and shield their campaign from attack by the anti-choice lobby. I can only hope that is all they want this bill to do.

Bills like this are some of the worst kind of politics. They are a complete waste of time, especially when their writers have no intention for them to pass. They distract both representatives and their constituents from more important legislation that can actually accomplish something tangible. They aren’t meant to benefit their constituents in any way – they are completely self-serving vehicles for politicians to increase their support and rile up their base.

A bill like this passing would be devastating. My only hope would be for its supporters to be voted out of office once people see the effects of the bill, and for them to have to admit that the bill was never meant to be passed.

In happy Kansas news, congrats to KU men’s basketball on their NCAA victory!