Anti-abortion supporters got a big win in Kansas on Friday. Kansas lawmakers passed legislation Friday that defines the beginning of life “at fertilization”, according to the Associated Press. The bill also bans abortions based solely on a baby’s sex and denies tax breaks to abortion providers.
The bill passed 90-30 in the House after it was approved 28-10 in the state senate.
State Sen. Steve Fitzgerald, a Leavenworth Republican, praised the bill’s passing.
"The human is a magnificent piece of work at all stages of development, wondrous in every regard, from the microscopic until full development," he said.
Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has been a strong opponent of abortion and is expected to sign the bill into law. If he does the law’s effects will begin July 1. Kansas State Senator David Haley opposed the bill and called it a “Taliban-esque” way of allowing religious beliefs to indicate what laws is made.
Democratic Rep. John Wilson said he believed the bill was about “politics, not medicine.”
"It's the very definition of government intrusion in a woman's personal medical decisions," he explained.
While the law is heavily opposed by abortion supporters, it does not have as many restrictions as new laws that were recently passed in North Dakota and Arkansas.
In North Dakota abortions are banned after the sixth week and in Arkansas abortions are banned after the 12th week.
Mary Pitcher Cook, Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee chairwoman has been a staunch supporter of the bill.
"There is a clear statement from Kansas with respect to the judgment on the inherent value of human life," she said.
She also praised the portion of the bill that deals with tax breaks for abortion clinics.
"Every taxpayer will be able to know with certainty that their money is not being used for abortion," she said.
The tax break portion of the bill keeps the state from sponsoring abortion. For instance, abortion providers will have to pay sales tax on the materials they buy where as other health care providers do not.
While Gov. Brownback is expected to sign the bill and says, “I am pro life,” he admits that he will be looking over the bill extensively.
