Republicans in Congress introduce 15-week abortion ban. Here is where Kansas lawmakers stand.
Republicans in Congress have introduced a national abortion ban that would prohibit the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy and provide a response to a politically charged issue that could be galvanizing for Democrats this fall.
The move comes a little over a month after Kansas voters rejected a measure that would have ended state constitutional protections for abortion rights.
It was the first time voters in any state weighed in on abortion after the overturning of Roe v. Wade in late June, a move that thrust the issue into the public consciousness.
Graham's bill, the "Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act" would ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy and include exceptions for rape, incest and the health of the mother.
It also includes criminal penalties for doctors who perform abortions, including up to five years in prison.
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U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall supports the bill, saying in a statement he "will always stand on the side of the 72% of Americans and most Kansans who support limiting abortions after 15 weeks."
Marshall said many European countries ban abortion after 15 weeks.
"For these reasons, I am supportive of Senator Lindsey Graham’s legislation," he said.
But U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., took a different view.
Moran, who is up for re-election in November against Democrat Mark Holland, said "with an equally divided Senate, changes will not be made at the federal level and therefore this issue can only be resolved at the state level."
U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-Kan., also had a more muted response.
In a statement, LaTurner criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's support for abortion rights but didn't comment on whether he supported the 15-week ban, which was also introduced in the U.S. House by U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J.
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"The Dobbs ruling rightly said that states should pass laws involving abortion restrictions," LaTurner said. "I will continue to work with elected officials in Topeka to stop Kansas from being the abortion destination that it is today."
Graham said his bill is in line with other countries and could help Republicans running in the midterms.
GOP Senate candidates have been mostly quiet on the campaign trail about the abortion issue, especially in those battleground states where polling shows them behind their Democratic opponents or in neck-and-neck races.
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Democrats have hoped that the Kansas vote is a sign abortion could be a galvanizing force for their voters in races nationally.
That includes the Kansas governor's race between Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican nominee, Attorney General Derek Schmidt, as well as the battle between the state's lone Democrat in Congress, U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids and businesswoman Amanda Adkins.
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"This is not hyperbole or hypothetical anymore," Davids said in a statement Tuesday. "Extreme politicians have been looking for an opportunity to strip away our right to choose through a total ban on abortion, and without Roe, they have one."
White House press secretary Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Graham's bill would strip away women's rights in all 50 states.
"It is an extreme piece of legislation, and it is in line, from what we are seeing from Republicans on these extreme agendas that is not in line — that is not in line — with the majority of Americans," Jean-Pierre said.
Graham's bill is unlikely to move in Congress unless Republicans take back control of the U.S. Senate, U.S. House or both chambers in November.
Andrew Bahl is a senior statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at abahl@gannett.com or by phone at 443-979-6100.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas lawmakers weigh in on national abortion ban issue
