April 19, 2023

Kansas and Arizona Governors Veto Born-Alive Protection Bills

On April 14, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) vetoed a bill that would have offered protection to babies who survive attempted abortions. This follows a similar veto by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) one week earlier.

The Kansas bill would have required any child born alive after an attempted abortion to be afforded “the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care provider would render to any other child born alive.”

Additionally, it would have required abortion businesses to transport surviving children to a hospital for emergency care. Abortionists who violate the law would be guilty of a felony.

Pro-lifers are hopeful that the large pro-life majority in Kansas will override Gov. Kelly's veto.

Danielle Underwood, the Kansans for Life Director of Communications, released the following statement
“Legislators from both sides of the aisle stood together to state the simple fact that babies born alive after an attempted abortion should not be left to die on a cold, steel, table. These babies deserve protection and the same medical care as any other newborn of the same gestational age. This once again proves how out of touch Gov. Kelly is with the values of the people of Kansas. We now call on all Kansans to urge their legislators to do the right thing and override Gov. Kelly’s heartless veto.”
Gov. Hobbs's veto in Arizona is much more likely to be the final say on the state's born-alive protection bill. The state legislature only contains a slim pro-life majority.