The Kansas Legislature recently overturned Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill that protects the right of pregnancy centers to provide care to women in accordance with pro-life values.
The Kansas Reflector reported that HB 2635, known as the CARE Act, exempts “centers from regulations that dictate what information, services and resources centers can provide on pregnancy, childbirth and parenting.” The legislation also creates a private cause of action, making it easier for centers to sue individuals or entities that violate the act.
According to local outlet KWCH, Kelly vetoed HB 2635 March 27, citing concerns that it allowed the government to interfere in personal medical decisions.
“The people of Kansas have made it clear, time and time again, that they want government to stay out of women’s private medical decisions,” she said. “That means we shouldn’t be spending tax dollars trying to interfere with that very personal, very private, medical decision. That’s why I’m vetoing this bill.”
However, both the House of Representatives and the Senate overwhelmingly voted to overturn her veto just hours after it was given. The act passed the House 87-35 and the Senate 30-9.
According to the Kansas Reflector, in debate over the bill, Democrat lawmakers agreed with Kelly that the legislation wastes taxpayer dollars and claimed the Republican legislators only cared about children before birth, not after. Republicans criticized Kelly’s financial argument and called the bill a protective measure that provides women with more opportunities.
According to the outlet, Republican Senate President Ty Masterson stated, “This bill simply protects pregnancy resource centers’ ability to educate mothers and provide life-affirming care.”