Kansas College Students Converge on State House to Lobby Against Omnibus Abortion Restriction Bill
Students Tell Legislators That Young People Support Reproductive RightsFebruary 4, 2013
Kate Londen
Klonden@choiceusa.org
202-965-7700 x115
For Immediate Release
Topeka, KS – College students from across the state gathered today in the capital to speak to their state legislatures and show their support for reproductive rights. More than twenty students from four universities met with Kansas legislators to lobby against the reintroduction of the extreme Kansas Omnibus Abortion Restriction & Taxation Bill. The bill would not only create new tax penalties on families and businesses, but would also mean imposing extreme restrictions to accessing reproductive healthcare in Kansas.
The students are all members of their campus chapter of Choice USA, the leading youth-led and youth-focused reproductive justice organization. Planned Parenthood of Kansas & Mid-Missouri, ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri, and Kansas National Organization for Women all helped to organize the day’s meetings with legislators.
“Our mission by coming to the Capitol was to demonstrate that there are young people in Kansas that oppose any more restrictions on reproductive freedom,” said Emma Halling, student leader of the Choice USA chapter at the University of Kansas. “There are some legislators who will still support the Omnibus bill, but today they had sit with some of their constituents and answer for why they would stand behind such a dangerous bill.”
The students traveled from University of Kansas, Wichita State University, Kansas State University, and Emporia State University to speak with their state legislators. Throughout the day the students attended meetings with Representative Sydney Carlin, Senator Oletha Faust-Goudeau, Senator Tom Hawk, Representative Don Hill, Senator Tom Holland, Senator Jeff Longbine, Representative Tom Sloan, and Senator Greg Smith.
The Omnibus Abortion Restriction Bill, called the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Bill” by its proponents, was introduced last spring but would have to be reintroduced into the new legislative session. The bill would create a myriad of new restrictions on reproductive healthcare and would create new tax penalties for Kansas families and businesses.
“Kansas is known for being family and community friendly,” said Choice USA Executive Director, Kierra Johnson. “These young constituents want to see policies that take care of everyday people, not further disempower Kansans as they make decisions about their lives. The Omnibus bill is too extreme for Kansas.”
A photo of the students is available here: http://bit.ly/14MClpb
BACKGROUND:
Choice USA envisions a world where all people have agency over their own bodies and relationships and the power, knowledge and tools to exercise that agency .Choice USA builds this vision by engaging young people in creating and leading the way to sexual and reproductive justice for all by providing training, field mobilization and national leadership for a youth-driven agenda.
