Pro-Life Victory in Kansas as House Approves a State Amendment called "Value them Both" to Protect the Rights of the Unborn
Life News reports that the Value Them Both amendment passed in an 86-38 vote, surpassing the two-thirds majority required to amend the state constitution. It now moves to the state Senate where pro-life leaders expect it will pass.
“Value Them Both is vital to ensure that we can continue to provide life-saving safeguards to women,” said Brittany Jones, Esq., director of advocacy for the Family Police Alliance of Kansas. “We are so thankful for all 86 members of the House who voted to protect our life-saving laws in Kansas. We are confident that the Senate will soon pass Value Them Both, and then it will be up to the people of Kansas.” (Life News excerpt)
Official Release from the Kansas House of Representatives:
A PROPOSITION to amend the bill of rights of the constitution of the state of Kansas by adding a new section thereto stating that there is no constitutional right to abortion, and reserving to the people the ability to regulate abortion through the elected members of the legislature of the state of Kansas.
WHEREAS, This proposition to amend the bill of rights of the constitution of the state of Kansas shall be known and may be cited as the Value Them Both Amendment. Now, therefore: Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Kansas, two-thirds of the members elected (or appointed) and qualified to the House of Representatives and two-thirds of the members elected (or appointed) and qualified to the Senate concurring therein: Section
1. The following proposition to amend the constitution of the state of Kansas shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the state for their approval or rejection: The bill of rights of the constitution of the state of Kansas is hereby amended by adding a new section to read as follows: "§ 22. Regulation of abortion. Because Kansans value both women and children, the constitution of the state of Kansas does not require government funding of abortion and does not create or secure a right to abortion. To the extent permitted by the constitution of the United States, the people, through their elected state representatives and state senators, may pass laws regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, laws that account for circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, or circumstances of necessity to save the life of the mother."
Sec. 2. The following statement shall be printed on the ballot with the amendment as a whole: "Explanatory statement. The Value Them Both Amendment would affirm there is no Kansas constitutional right to abortion or to require the government funding of abortion, and would reserve to the people of Kansas, through their elected state legislators, the right to pass laws to regulate abortion, including, but not limited to, in circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, or when necessary to save the life of the mother. "A vote for the Value Them Both Amendment would affirm there is no Kansas constitutional right to abortion or to require the government funding of abortion, and would reserve to the people of Kansas, through their elected state legislators, the right to pass laws to regulate abortion. "A vote against the Value Them Both Amendment would make no changes to the constitution of the state of Kansas, and could restrict the people, through their elected state legislators, from regulating abortion by leaving in place the recently recognized right to abortion."
Sec. 3. This resolution, if approved by two-thirds of the members elected (or appointed) and qualified to the House of Representatives, and two-thirds of the members elected (or appointed) and qualified to the Senate shall be entered on the journals, together with the yeas and nays. The secretary of state shall cause this resolution to be published as provided by law and shall cause the proposed amendment to be submitted to the electors of the state at a special election which is hereby called on August 2, 2022, pursuant to section 1 of article 14 of the constitution of the state of Kansas, to be held in conjunction with the primary election held on such date.
Source: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hcr5003_00_0000.pdf
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