Kansas' governor vetoed legislation Wednesday that would require clinics to tell patients that a medication abortion can be stopped using a drug regimen, that critics say is unproven.
Gov. Laura Kelly's action pushed back state efforts to restrict abortion. It was the second time within a week that she vetoed an anti-abortion bill approved by the Legislature.
"Kansans made clear that they believe personal healthcare decisions should be made between a woman and her doctor, not politicians in Topeka," Kelly said in a short statement announcing Wednesday's action.
Last week, she rejected a measure that could subject doctors to criminal charges and lawsuits if they are accused of not providing enough care for infants delivered alive during certain abortion procedures.
Kelly also vetoed an abortion medication "reversal" measure in 2019. The governor said Wednesday that this year's bill would interfere in decisions made by women and their doctors and could harm people's health, "given the uncertain science behind it."
Kansans for Life, called last week's veto of the bill dealing with medical care for infants born during abortion procedures "heartless." After Kelly's veto of the abortion medication measure, spokesperson Danielle Underwood said the governor sided with the "extremist abortion industry."
Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said: "With this veto, Governor Kelly has shown that she does not believe vulnerable women have the right to know all of their options."
The vetoes mean that abortion access and providers in Kansas remain for now far less restricted compared to other states that have banned or severely restricted abortion procedures over the past year.
GOP lawmakers are expected to try to override both vetoes after they reconvene next week to finish their business for the year.
