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Kansas Senate Advances Abortion Bill

The Kansas Senate chamber. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)
The Kansas Senate chamber. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)

The Kansas Senate has given first-round approval to legislation that would bar a specific type of abortion procedure, known as dilation and extraction abortion. The bill calls it “dismemberment abortion.” KPR’s Stephen Koranda reports.


(SCRIPT)
Several Republicans focused on the procedure itself, describing it as gruesome. Here’s Republican Senator Steve Fitzgerald.

“And there is no basis upon which anybody can attempt to defend it, and yet some do. I would hope that this body would set, yet again, an example for the nation,” says Fitzgerald.

Democratic Senator Marci Francisco says with all the talk of valuing life, they need to also think about the mother’s life. Francisco says the procedure may be the safest option in some cases.

“As part of that value, we want to provide the best medical care that we can and the safest medical care that we can,” says Francisco.

The Senate is expected to take a final vote on the bill today, which will then send it to the Kansas House for consideration.

Stephen Koranda is KPR's Statehouse reporter.