Topeka, KS - Yesterday, the Kansas State Senate passed a bill that would require that women seeking abortions be allowed to see an ultrasound image of their baby at least 30 minutes before the abortion. This bill puts the radical abortion views of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who was recently nominated as Secretary of Health and Human Services, again in the spotlight.
Sebelius vetoed a similar bill last year. However, this time the bill passed both houses with a veto-proof majority. For her to oppose the legislation is to invite a rare veto override and challenge to her political power.
"Sebelius is between a rock and a hard place on this bill," said Cheryl Sullenger, Operation Rescue's Senior Policy Advisor who testified before a House committee in favor of the legislation. "If she vetoes it, she underscores her extremist support for unrestricted abortion, even to the point of denying women crucial information about their own pregnancies. That would expose her and diminish her popularity on the national scene. If she signs the law, she betrays her political allies in the powerful abortion lobby. That could damage her future political viability."
Sullenger presented evidence to the House Federal and State Affairs committee that George Tiller's late-term abortion clinic in Wichita faked ultrasound measurements to intentionally underestimate fetal ages in order to avoid complying with the Kansas ban on post-viability abortions. [Read OR's investigative report.]
"We are pleased to have played a small role in helping to pass this bill," said Sullenger. "The fact that it places Sebelius in a politically awkward situation is icing on the cake for us."
Tiller is currently facing 19 criminal charges of violating the Kansas late-term abortion law. His trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 23. Tiller's associations with Sebelius have been a cause of concern among conservatives. In April, 2007, Sebelius hosted a party in honor of Tiller and his entire abortion clinic staff at the Governor's mansion. Receipts obtained by Operation Rescue show taxpayers footed the bill. Sebelius tried to mitigate the political fall-out from the party by saying it was an auction prize. However, there is not one shred of evidence ever produced by Sebelius to back up her claim.
Sebelius has ten days to sign or veto the bill. If she does neither, the bill will automatically become law.
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