WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Politicians and organizations have been reacting to the news that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. We will update this story as we get more comments.
Some of the comments we are receiving mention the Value Them Both Amendment that will be on the August Primary ballot.
Voting for the amendment means there is no Kansas constitutional right to abortion or to require the government funding of abortion. Elected state legislators would have the right to pass laws to regulate abortion.
Voting against the amendment would make no changes to the Kansas constitution and could restrict state legislators from regulating abortion.
Mackenzie Haddix, Value Them Both Coalition deputy communications director
“Today’s decision on Dobbs v. Jackson emphasizes the importance of our democracy, restoring the power to the states to decide how and if they are going to place limits on the abortion industry. The U.S. Supreme Court restored the people’s ability to come to individual consensus on abortion limits — but not in Kansas. As it stands today, unelected judges in Kansas are the ones who will decide the fate of abortion limits. The Value Them Both Amendment is a reasonable approach and will ensure Kansas does not remain a permanent destination for the most extreme and painful abortion procedures.
“At this historically important time, the question before Kansans on August 2nd is clear: an unregulated abortion industry with no limits at all or the reasonable limits protected by the Value Them Both Amendment.”
The coalition is led by Kansans for Life, the Kansas Catholic Conference, and Kansas Family Voice.
Ashley All, Kansans for Constitutional Freedom coalition
“This is a shameful decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that eliminates the rights of American women. It puts their lives at risk and sends a strong message that they are not worthy of equal rights.
“On August 2nd, Kansas will be the first state in the nation to vote on reproductive freedom following this decision. The constitutional amendment on the Kansas ballot will mandate government control over our private medical decisions and pave the way for a total ban on abortion. With no exception for rape, incest, or to save the mother’s life. We must vote NO!
“This is an absolutely unprecedented moment – if we do not act, children will have fewer constitutional rights than their parents. This decision reinforces how critical it is that we protect our constitutional rights here at home. Kansans must continue to have the freedom to make private health decisions free from government overreach. We ask you to vote NO on August 2nd.”
Planned Parenthood Great Plains
Two hundred and fifty years ago, our country’s founders said, ‘All men are created equal.’ Today, the Supreme Court took the ‘men’ part literally, stripping rights from every woman in America. State by state, we have seen access to abortion virtually eliminated. Oklahoma recently enacted the first total abortion ban most Americans have seen in their lifetime. Even while reproductive rights were being taken away before our very eyes, many people still doubted Roe could ever fall. Today this creeping march to crush fundamental freedoms has reached its awful conclusion: your body is not your own. Your rights are entirely dependent on where you reside. Yet in this very grim moment in American history, Planned Parenthood Great Plains’ doors are still open and will stay open, to provide sexual and reproductive care today, tomorrow, and for years to come. Our services may be forced to change due to cruel bans on abortion care, but our commitment to our patients remains.”
Emily Wales, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Great Plains
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R – Kansas)
“Since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973, numerous, sensible laws designed to protect the lives of the unborn have been blocked by unelected judges. Today, nearly 50 years after Roe, the Supreme Court rule there is no constitutional right to an abortion. As Justice Alito stated, ‘It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.’ With this ruling, the American people will again have the opportunity to make their voices heard through their representatives and the legislative process. This historic decision will now allow legislatures, accountable to the citizens who elected them, to take action to pass laws that protect children in the womb and support their mothers.”
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R – Kansas)
“As an OBGYN, I had the honor of delivering more than 5,000 babies. Because of these wonderful moments and experiences, I believe life begins at conception. In fact, this is why today’s historic decision signals a new beginning for millions of unborn American children.
“In many states, this monumental ruling will trigger protections for the well-being of moms and guard the sanctity of life for their sons and daughters. Hopefully, today begins healing the wounds the pro-abortion agenda ripped open on American society almost 50 years ago.”
He goes on to say:
“All this being said, I want to remind everyone that putting an end to Roe vs Wade simply places this emotion-filled issue into the hands of the citizens of this country and their elected state officials, as opposed to unelected members of the federal judiciary. Nothing more, nothing less.
“I urge all Americans to remain peaceful and respectful during the protests of this decision.
“Justice cannot and will not be served under the threat of mob violence so help us God.”
Click here to watch Marshall’s complete statement.
U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (R – Kansas District 1)
“50 years ago, the Supreme Court legislated from the bench with Roe V. Wade and declared abortion a Constitutional right grounded in a woman’s right to privacy – a legal move that was shaky, biased, and wrong. Since the ruling, 62 million American children were robbed of their right to life.
“The U.S. Supreme Court does not have constitutional grounds to legalize abortion services nationwide, and the ruling in 1973 stripped away the states’ rights to decide. It took away the American people’s right to decide whether our country values the lives of every citizen, born or unborn. Today’s decision gives the power back to the American people as designed in our Constitution.
“We have witnessed a monumental win for the pro-life movement. Brave American advocates from all walks of life called for this ruling and tirelessly pushed back on the evil of abortion and the radical left, but we still have an uphill battle ahead.
“On August 2nd, Kansans will be the first citizens to go to the voting booth and decide whether our state will allow abortion services – the very thing that the U.S. Supreme Court has stated we have the right to do as outlined in the Constitution. Kansans are trail blazers by nature, and I encourage everyone to educate themselves on this issue before taking to the polls later this summer.
“Today is a day to celebrate. Today is a day of answered prayers. Today, the Supreme Court rectified a wrong that has plagued our country and resulted in the deaths of millions. May America’s heart and soul be transformed by this ruling.”
U.S. Representative Jake LaTurner (R – Kansas District 2)
“Today is a monumental win for pro-life Americans across our country who have been fighting tirelessly over the last fifty years to protect the most vulnerable among us—the unborn. Democrats’ extreme abortion-on-demand agenda does not accurately reflect the views of most Americans. Overturning Roe ensures state and local officials closest to the people they represent, not unelected judges in Washington, construct our nation’s abortion laws.
“Unfortunately, this welcomed ruling won’t protect life in Kansas. It’s now more important than ever that Kansans reaffirm our commitment to protecting the unborn and vote to pass the Value Them Both Amendment to guarantee our state does not become a hub for unlimited abortions.”
U.S. Representative Sharice Davids (D – Kansas District 3)
“The Supreme Court just erased nearly 50 years of precedent, endangering the lives of women in Kansas and the entire country.
“Here’s a promise – I’ll always fight to ensure Kansas families have access to the full range of health care services, including reproductive health care.”
She later updated her message to say:
“This is no longer hyperbole or hypothetical. For 50 years, we’ve been protected from the most extreme attempts to control people’s decisions about their bodies, but that protection is now gone and Kansas is at a major decision point.
“Will we stand by as Kansas joins a wave of states with extreme, no-exception bans? Or will we make it known that in Kansas, we support women and access to health care–and we believe politicians have no right to take away a person’s right to choose?
“I urge folks to consider carefully what’s at stake. I will always work to protect Kansans’ rights to choose—starting by voting no on the amendment seeking to strip existing protections from our state constitution in August.”
U.S. Representative Ron Estes (R – Kansas District 4)
“After more than 60 million babies were denied the blessings of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness before they were even born, the disastrous and misguided Roe v. Wade ruling from 1973 has finally been overturned.
“Today’s ruling does not ban abortion, but returns abortion regulation to each state and their democratically elected officials. As the left continues to push radical abortion policy in Kansas, this gives a new voice to the majority who want common sense laws that protect mothers and babies, like parental consent for minors, no taxpayer funded abortions, and an end to late-term abortions.”
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat, seeking reelection this year
“A woman’s reproductive healthcare decisions should be between her and her physician. I’ll continue to oppose all regressive legislation that interferes with individual freedoms or threatens the strides we’ve made in recent years making Kansas a constructive place to do business.”
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who is running for the Republican nomination for governor
“Today’s landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court was the right one because as a matter of constitutional interpretation, as the Court writes, ‘Roe was egregiously wrong from the start.’ Now, the Court explains, ‘The permissibility of abortion, and the limitations upon it, are to be resolved like most important questions in our democracy: by citizens trying to persuade one another and then voting.’
“Today’s decision means the power and responsibility to decide the important and difficult questions involving regulation of abortion have been returned to the people instead of federal judges. The people of Kansas will speak directly to this subject in less than six weeks. In voting on the Value Them Both amendment, Kansans will decide whether state judges may determine how abortion is regulated in Kansas or whether that is a responsibility for the elected and democratically accountable branches of state government.
“In my view, the increase in the number of abortions in Kansas the past two years after a long period of steady decline is distressing. I prefer a future with less abortion, not more. To preserve existing limits on late-term abortions, requirements parents be notified when minors seek abortion, and prohibitions on using taxpayer funds to pay for abortion, I will join with other pro-life Kansans in casting my vote for Value Them Both. On August 2, the people will speak and their voice will show the path forward for Kansas.”
Vicki Hiatt, Kansas Democratic Party chairwoman
“This decision makes it clear: The rights of Kansans to control their own reproductive healthcare decisions are under attack. Kansans don’t want more government mandates that infringe on their individual liberties. We will continue to fight for our freedom and against this political overreach. Vote no on August 2 and support Democrats up and down the ballot this November.”
Shannon Pahls, Kansas GOP executive director
“Today’s decision is a tremendous victory for life. The Supreme Court correctly returned the right to regulate abortion back to the people and their elected officials.
“Kansas Republicans will continue to advocate for the right to life and push back against the Democrats’ radical pro-abortion agenda. Our work is not done. Under Laura Kelly, abortions have increased every year she has been governor. That is why we must vote YES on Value Them Both to protect women and babies from an unregulated abortion industry. Joe Biden and his allies want to turn Kansas into a national destination for the most extreme late-term abortion practices. We cannot allow Kansas to become like New York and California. So on August 2nd, vote YES.”
Kansas Senator Ty Masterson, R, Kansas Senate president
“The SCOTUS decision today to finally overturn the egregiously flawed Roe decision is long overdue. Pro-life Americans have been praying for nearly 50 years for this day when the erroneous constitutional right to an abortion invented in Roe will no longer stand. The SCOTUS in Dobbs rightly returns the power to the people to decide this question via their state legislature.
“Here in Kansas, however, we still have work to do because of the deeply flawed Hodes decision released by the Kansas Supreme Court, which wrongly invented an unlimited right to abortion in our 1859 constitution and recklessly put into question even our most basic protections for women and their unborn children. That is why our focus must now be on ensuring we pass the Value Them Both constitutional amendment on August 2nd.”