Anti-Abortion Leader Wants Special Session To Include Abortion Restrictions

An anti-abortion group’s leader says he wants Kansas lawmakers to consider banning most abortions early in pregnancy during their special session in September.

Kansas Coalition for Life Chairman Mark Gietzen said Tuesday that he believes proposed fetal heartbeat legislation would pass if it were put to a vote in both chambers.

The measure would prohibit abortions when doctors can detect a fetal heartbeat, which can occur as early as the sixth week of pregnancy.

Gov. Sam Brownback called the special session for Sept. 3 to rewrite a state law allowing judges to sentence convicted murderers to at least 50 years in prison. A U.S. Supreme Court decision last month raised questions about its constitutionality.

And spokeswoman Eileen Hawley says Brownback wants the session to remain narrowly focused.