Judge Refuses to Block Kansas Abortion Law

WICHITA, Kan. — A federal judge refused Thursday to block a new Kansas law restricting insurance coverage for abortions, saying opponents failed to prove their claim that legislators' real intent was to create obstacles for women seeking abortions.

The law prohibits insurance companies from offering abortion coverage as part of general health plans, except when a woman's life is at risk. Patients who want abortion coverage must buy supplemental policies, known as riders, covering only abortion.

The ruling means that women seeking an abortion in Kansas will need to buy a rider or pay for the procedure out-of-pocket if their insurance policies are new or were renewed after the law took effect July 1.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued the state in August, arguing that the law's true intent was to impose an unconstitutional burden on abortion seekers, and asked that the law be put on hold during the court fight.

U.S. District Judge Wesley Brown rejected the request, saying the ACLU didn't provide evidence that the law "actually has the effect of creating a substantial obstacle to obtaining abortions."

Full Story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/29/kansas-judge-abortion-insurance-law-judge_n_987661.html

 

I am angry about this, and about what's happening in Ohio, Arizona and elsewhere on this topic. My body, my choice, and for me, it's as simple and fundamental as that.

Here's a round up of some of the other laws and where they stand today. This year, in the first quarter of 2011, 960+ anti-choice bills were filed in various states. THIS is what we want politicians spending time on when the country is in a mess? What women do with their reproductive organs??

Repro Rights Updates

 

Agreed. It really pisses me off that rather than dealing with the things that matter, they're focused on what's going on in my vagina. Abortion shouldn't be an issue to anyone but me- if I have one, I have one, if I don't, I don't. Why is this still being talked about? There are other things to do!

 

Because these politicians would rather legislate morality than fix the issues that REALLY plague this country. They all claim to want less government interfering in their lives but it’s okay to tell you as a woman what you can and can’t do with your own body.

Their hypocrisy knows no boundaries.

 

Politicians are more concerned about their image, catering to "non-issues" to please certain voters - rather than to avoid driving this country to the brink of oblivion. Seems to be their more busy trying to make their opponents look bad than fixing the real issues.