Abortion opponents rallied at the Kansas Statehouse this week, but their minds were on the Supreme Court chamber across the street. A long-awaited court ruling could spark a new constitutional fight.
For nearly two years, the Kansas Supreme Court has been mulling whether there’s a right to abortion in the state Constitution. Mary Kay Culp, with Kansans for Life, said finding that right could knock down many abortion restrictions.
“We have a threat over our heads from the Kansas Supreme Court that may completely remove our ability to even have laws against abortion,” Culp said.
The only recourse in that case would be amending the state constitution, and Republican leaders are on board.
“We absolutely must pass a state constructional amendment to defend the right to life in Kansas,” Republican House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins told the crowd at the rally.
It’s a high bar to change the constitution. It takes a 2/3rds majority of each chamber and then approval from voters.
Stephen Koranda has more: