UPDATE, 5:33 Eastern: AP reports, "Kansas health dept.: 1 abortion provider to get license after passing new inspection rules."
Original post follows:
It looks like Republicans in Kansas are going to succeed in shutting down abortion in that state via red tape -- at least temporarily -- starting tomorrow when the state's new licensing regulations for abortion clinics take effect. So far, none of the the state's three remaining clinics has been approved for a license.
A clinic run by Planned Parenthood is the only one that was inspected under the new rules. Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri President Peter Brownlie tells us they haven't been told yet whether they'll be licensed.
A second abortion provider has sued to block the regulations and the third has sought to join the case. But the first hearing in that lawsuit isn't scheduled until tomorrow afternoon -- and the law kicks in tomorrow. So all three providers tell us they've decided not to schedule abortions procedure tomorrow for risk of running afoul of the new law.
"We have been swamped with phone calls from women who are panicked about the situation and doing we're doing everything we can today to see everybody who wants reproductive health care while it's still available," Mr. Brownlie tells us.
The lawsuit (pdf) filed earlier this week by Dr. Herbert Hodes and Dr. Traci Nauser is a direct and harrowing read:
The Temporary Regulations and Licensing Process have the purpose and the effect of imposing an undue burden on Plaintiffs’ patients who seek abortions presently or in the future, in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
That "undue burden" looks to include a de facto ban on clinics providing this service. We'll have much more on the show tonight.
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Is this similar to what VA did?
Yes, they've got their own TRAP laws.
So, what can we do in the meantime to help women in Kansas who need abortions?
somehow i am experiencing my beautiful america going back into what seems to me to be the dark ages. it is so saad what is happening to my country.
Freedom to scam investors (over and over again). Freedom to Polute without regulations (carbon emissions). Freedom to buy politicains (both parties). Freedom to provide tax dollars for Private Jets. Freedom to tell you what to do with Your body. Freedom to silence your speach(unions). Freedom to for Governors to bully Mayors. Freedom to disolve your city or town. Freedom to take away Public property and make private golf courses. Freedom to restrict access to voting places. Freedom to allow Corporate
Welfare. Freedom to tell you what religion to choose. Freedom for no minimum wage. Freedom to sell guns to anyone at gun shows. Freedon to shout 'faggot" at funeral. Freedom to march in parades and shout "Kill @!$%#s and Jews". Freedom to pay higher percntage of taxes than Millionares. Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom. Wow, what am I do with all this Freedom?
I like you.
This just shows how much Republicans hate freedom and women.
This is insane. A small sliver of what so-called abortion clinics are abortions. They provide reproductive health care to women that can't afford it. Stupid politics.
why can't people see what is happening?
Good we have more unwanted kids we have to pay for them to come to life, then put in foster homes and then pay for them to move from one jail to another and watch them grow bitter and enjoy a very hard life thanks to stupid politicians and religious folks whom can't show me yet where in the bible it says there should be no abortion.
What is happening to our country? Women and children seem to be under siege. I can't believe in a few short years all of the rights we have lost. We are going backward. I cannot believe this is what the people want, look at the energy in Wisconsin. This is beyond scary.
i wonder how blessed your life is? when u stop giving... u stop receiving... according to the law of compensation... according to another universal principle... u get exactly what u cause othesr to experience in life... i guess the politicians have an lot to answer for and also if u spew hate... it comes back multiplied, too! sorry...just the way it is!
These regulations impinge on the constitutional right to privacy and as such, they receive the highest scrutiny by the federal courts. The point of these regulations is to see how far the states can indirectly regulate abortions. The federal courts should toss most of these silly regulations. But these cases, along with the other cases from various states, are going to ultimately end up in the SCOTUS. The religious right is pushing the cases to try and get Roe v. Wade overturned. If that happens, it will energize the women's movement and that would not be good for Republicans seeking election. But that needs to happen before these cases reach the SCOTUS. If women exercise their voting rights and toss the antiabortionists, they can send a very large message. Aside from that we can only hope for a court vacancy from the conservative side that Obama can fill.
As a moderate democrat in Kansas (yes, a handful of us) I am not surprised at the aggressive agenda Brownback is spearheading. Now, I hear people complaining about pay raise cuts for state employees, others asking why education funds for K-12 were cut drastically, now I have to buy "rape insurance", just in case my wife or daughters become victums, that doesn't exist nor will be, and why are so many govement agencies being shut down? These are things I knew was coming before the election and can't believe the same people that voted for Brownback are now realizing what was in the package. Needless to say, people should read, learn about their candidates, and stand up when they have a chance to make a difference - not after the fact. It is shameful. Our state is being run into the ground. Very sad. My daughter asked me, "why did the governor cut money to us kids - you guys (parents) already have to donate school supplies during the year?". Too bad Brownback can't hear that.
-Michael / Concerned yet not surprised in Kansas
Why is anyone in KS surprised by what Brownback has done? It's not as if he is some unknown quantity that came out of nowhere. He was a US senator, for heaven's sake, and his extremist positions were well known. If people in KS STILL didn't know what they were in for if they elected governor, they were asleep at the wheel.
Not all of us voted for him!!
Apparently it was another case of dems not coming out because they weren't motivated, or were "protesting" the fact that Obama didn't do as much as they wanted as fast as they wanted. Yeah, electing Brownback really showed Obama didn't it? Electing Walker, Kasich, Snyder, Scott and lots of state legislatures really, really showed Obama who's boss, eh? Is he suffering right now? Are dems in general suffering? It seems to me that the people who are suffering are the very people who either voted these guys in, or who were "protesting". Right now we have an entire state here in MN that is suffering because we have a radical repub legislature. The only thing holding this state together right now is a dem governor who is standing up to repub extortion attempts. Let us be a lesson to dems on the national stage to stand their ground. We'll take the bullet so the rest of the country hopefully doesn't have to.
This makes me really sad. The people at the Overland Park PP were so nice to me. They treated me with so much more respect and courtasy than ANY OB I have met since :(
TRAP Laws and the War on Women: Condoning Women’s Bodies as Collateral Damage
http://prochoicewashington.wordpress.com/
Abortion Battle Casualties: Bargaining Away Health Care for America’s Most Vulnerable Women
http://antoinettesfunfeministworld.blogspot.com/
I hope that TRMS can bring to the public how this ban affects particular women. Here's my imagined scenario, based on experience: abortion provider calls pregnant woman to say her appt was cancelled due to legal problems. Woman explains that she got child care, took a day off work without pay, made arrangements to get a ride there and back for tomorrow. It's not clear if she'll be able to pull this off on Monday, if the situation is resolved by then.
So often the Friday abortion patients are the ones who can't possibly make arrangements at any other time but the weekend. How many are coming up against a deadline after which they can't have medication abortions, or can't have a legal abortions at all?
It's so easy to lose sight of the women in this situation, but I know that TRMS will keep the focus on the cost to our mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends.
So much for "keeping government out of our lives"...
Is anyone else sick and tired of all this culture-war idiocy?
i am amazed at the lengths Republicans will go to to circumvent the law....last i checked, abortion was a legal procedure in these United States.....and i thought the GOP was all about upholding the law....silly me.....that only goes for laws they agree with, i guess......
It's fricking Kansas, what do you expect? They have a big sign as you enter the state on I-70 that says:
WELCOME TO KANSAS -- SUICIDE HERE IS REDUNDANT!
In 2007 there was a Republican in Kansas who had an original thought, but sadly, it died of loneliness.
It appears that the 2% of our Country has taken hold ouf the rest of the 98%. When or what needs to happen for us to stand yo & take back this Country from the Rt. Wing Fascists that have stolen it.
Whoever has the Guns wins. People, uneducated or angry, put the tea party in power. They have the Guns & the Power to usurp our rights.
Now, we have those in power who are willing to engage in Slash & Burn Philosophy to tank the Economy. Smash the economy...forget the Debt Ceiling, forget paying our debts to foreign countries like China, paying SS, Veterans. Watch helplessly, as interest rates go through the roof, borrowing @ higherrates from China or Japan will bankrupt us. These people will do ANYTHING, even bring down our Country to make Obama a one term President. It seems hopeless where I sit. These Republicans like Scott, Walker, Kasitsch, Brownback & more, plus, the Republican House isn't thinking of us when they say No to everything that will improve our economy, lest it improve & Obama wins a 2nd term.
What is there to do as we sit by helplessly. If I thought it would help, so many of us loaded with IPads, IPhones, Blackberrys & email. We can wait 3-4 yrs. while this Oligarchy brings down Unions, the Middle class, while we watch as we are stripped of rights, our property, our HealthCare, our SS & Medicare. Maybe if it becomes bad enough..remember Egypt.
It appears that the 2% of our Country has taken hold ouf the rest of the 98%. When or what needs to happen for us to stand yo & take back this Country from the Rt. Wing Fascists that have stolen it.
Whoever has the Guns wins. People, uneducated or angry, put the tea party in power. They have the Guns & the Power to usurp our rights.
Now, we have those in power who are willing to engage in Slash & Burn Philosophy to tank the Economy. Smash the economy...forget the Debt Ceiling, forget paying our debts to foreign countries like China, paying SS, Veterans. Watch helplessly, as interest rates go through the roof, borrowing @ higherrates from China or Japan will bankrupt us. These people will do ANYTHING, even bring down our Country to make Obama a one term President. It seems hopeless where I sit. These Republicans like Scott, Walker, Kasitsch, Brownback & more, plus, the Republican House isn't thinking of us when they say No to everything that will improve our economy, lest it improve & Obama wins a 2nd term.
What is there to do as we sit by helplessly. If I thought it would help, so many of us loaded with IPads, IPhones, Blackberrys & email. We can wait 3-4 yrs. while this Oligarchy brings down Unions, the Middle class, while we watch as we are stripped of rights, our property, our HealthCare, our SS & Medicare. Maybe if it becomes bad enough..remember Egypt.
It appears that the 2% of our Country has taken hold ouf the rest of the 98%. When or what needs to happen for us to stand yo & take back this Country from the Rt. Wing Fascists that have stolen it.
Whoever has the Guns wins. People, uneducated or angry, put the tea party in power. They have the Guns & the Power to usurp our rights.
Now, we have those in power who are willing to engage in Slash & Burn Philosophy to tank the Economy. Smash the economy...forget the Debt Ceiling, forget paying our debts to foreign countries like China, paying SS, Veterans. Watch helplessly, as interest rates go through the roof, borrowing @ higherrates from China or Japan will bankrupt us. These people will do ANYTHING, even bring down our Country to make Obama a one term President. It seems hopeless where I sit. These Republicans like Scott, Walker, Kasitsch, Brownback & more, plus, the Republican House isn't thinking of us when they say No to everything that will improve our economy, lest it improve & Obama wins a 2nd term.
What is there to do as we sit by helplessly. If I thought it would help, so many of us loaded with IPads, IPhones, Blackberrys & email. We can wait 3-4 yrs. while this Oligarchy brings down Unions, the Middle class, while we watch as we are stripped of rights, our property, our HealthCare, our SS & Medicare. Maybe if it becomes bad enough..remember Egypt.
What are Americans waiting for. The Debt Ceiling will not be raised which was pro-forma for the past 30 yrs. But, the Tea Party which a bunch of non-thinking, politically naive or angry, they are ready to bring down America. Just how patriotic is that? I would call that Anti-American..Unpatriotic. Slash & burn; no increase in Revenue. We bow to Grover Norquest & the protection of the top 2%. The rest of us, according to the top 2%. We don't need SS, Medicare, unemployment Insurance, Wicc, Headstart, HEAP, all programs that are meant for the Elderly, poor, disabled, those who are disempowered. The top 2% & their wealth must be protected while our Unions & thus, our Middle Class is no more. Watch helplessly as Aug 2, 2011 comes & goes. Armaggedan. For what?!?! So that Obama becomes a one Term President. Bring down the Economy...bring down Obama. The Republicans are motivated so much so, that they are willing to bring our Country to it's knees..to bring the Obama Adm. Down.
The law effectively permits abortion for the wealthy who can travel to abortion-friendly territories, but not for the poor who must make do with amateur illegal abortions. To fight back, fight the hypocrisy, post photos of the wives and girlfriends of state legislators going into abortion clinics outside (or inside) Kansas.
Elections have consequences. Vote.
Christians are so full of themselves on this issue that their opinion in the only possible opinion, and they are willing to kill people to get their way. Compromise is impossible.
What we need is an abortion pill or a home abortion kit where you can perform an abortion at home safely in private. Then the Christians will not be able to interfere. Even if they were locally banned, you could buy them by mail.
Here is the address of the office of the governor of Kansas:
I've got some clothes hangers I'm not using. I think I'll send them to Brownback.