To the editor:
On Aug. 2nd Kansans will have the opportunity to vote on a very important constitutional amendment; you have probably seen the purple signs all over the state supporting Value Them Both. My wife, Tory Marie Blew, actually carried the constitutional amendment on the House floor (just so you know, debate prep isn’t very fun). Just like any form of politics, unfortunately, there is some misinformation being spread around. Below are some questions we have been asked repeatedly.
What does the Value Them Both Amendment do?
It stops painful, late-term abortions (live dismemberment abortions) and protects other limits on the abortion industry. It does not ban abortion. The only thing it bans is taxpayer-funded abortions.
Why is it even needed with Roe being overturned?
In 2019 the Kansas Supreme Court declared that abortion is an unlimited right and every limit on abortion is now presumed unconstitutional. Abortion limits are being struck down one by one.
Since 2019 abortions have increased by 13% and half of our abortions are performed on out-of-state residents coming to Kansas.
Does Value Them Both impact ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, etc?
No. Anti-Amendment forces want to make this campaign about anything but painful late-term abortions and keeping reasonable limits in place in Kansas. They are waging a campaign of confusion.
Kansas has a very clear legal definition of abortion-K.S.A. 65-6701(a).
- The treatment for an ectopic pregnancy is NOT an abortion.
- The treatment for miscarriage is NOT an abortion.
- The treatment for septic uterus is NOT an abortion.
Does Value Them Both have anything to do with birth control, IVF, or fertility treatments?
No. Anti-Amendment forces want to make this campaign about anything but painful late-term abortions and keeping reasonable limits in place in Kansas. They are waging a campaign of confusion.
Kansas has a very clear legal definition of abortion-K.S.A. 65-6701(a).
Value Them Both has nothing to do with birth control, IVF, or fertility treatments.
What happens if Kansas does not pass Value Them Both?
Kansans are at risk of losing the 23 abortion protection laws that are currently in place. Here are a couple of examples:
- Offering a sonogram to the mother before the abortion procedure.
- Requiring abortion clinic licensing and inspection.
- Requiring a 24-hour waiting period between the initial appointment and the abortion procedure.
- Parental consent for a minor wanting to receive an abortion.
In 2020 there were over 7,500 abortions in the state of Kansas; nearly 4,000 of them were from out-of-state residents. During COVID Kansas was the abortion destination state and we find that heartbreaking. The Kansas City Star reported, “(Without the Value Them Both Amendment) Kansas would see a more than 1,000% increase in abortions.”
I hope you will join us in voting YES on Aug. 2nd. Even if you are not registered to a major party, ALL registered voters can vote. If you are not registered to vote, the registration deadline is July 12th.
To learn more please visit www.valuethemboth.com/faqs or reach out to us.
Justin Blew
Great Bend
