Value Them Both is moving. In fact, we had an all-day joint hearing with the House and Senate Federal and State Affairs and Judiciary Committees on Tuesday. This was an opportunity for both sides to express their position on the amendment. And indeed, both sides did.
Our key message was that Value Them Both simply ensures that the people of Kansas can establish basic safeguards around the abortion industry for women and babies. The abortion industry wants to be able to operate outside the bounds of the law as they have shown time and time again. This amendment simply takes the understanding of the law back to where it was before April of 2019.
Here is a portion of my statement from yesterday:
“If we want to ensure that women are given the most basic information about their doctor, that minor children are not left to make important decisions on their own, that women can know that they will enter a clean, safe facility, and that Kansas will not be forced to pay for abortions, we must ensure that the people have the right to regulate the abortion industry through the legislature. That is why we need the Value Them Both Amendment. Six other states have already passed similar amendments, and multiple other states are considering them this session. Let’s be a leader in valuing both women and babies and let the people of Kansas vote.”
Like a broken record, our opponents falsely claimed that the Value Them Both Amendment is a ban and would make it impossible for them to practice “safe abortions”. When asked how they knew it was a ban, they refused to answer. Further, when asked if they supported basic medical regulations on the “medical” practice of abortion, they claimed that they did.
Wednesday morning both committees passed the amendment out of committee favorably. The legislators from the committees who voted in favor of passing the amendment are:
- Jan Kessinger
- Susan Humphries
- Eric Smith
- Michael Houser
- John Barker
- Adam Smith
- Renee Erickson
- Jesse Burris
- Francis Awerkamp
- Tory Marie Arnberger
- Blake Carpenter
- John Eplee
- Trevor Jacobs
- Jim Karleskint
- Les Mason
- John Resman
- Rick Wilborn
- Eric Rucker
- Molly Baumgardner
- Elaine Bowers
- Julia Lynn
- Mike Petersen
- Mike Thompson
If you know any of these legislators, be sure to reach out to thank them for their vote! The amendment now goes to the floor of both chambers for consideration.
Thank you to so many of you who showed up yesterday to support Value Them Both and those of you who contacted your legislators. Keep it coming. They need to know you care!
Valuing Them Both,
Brittany Jones, Esq.
Director of Advocacy
P.S. If you haven’t contacted your legislator, you can still do so! Your legislators need to hear from YOU!