Trust Women condemns Governor Brownback’s re-signing of SB 95

Wichita, KS– Trust Women condemns Governor Brownback’s announced public re-signings of Senate Bill 95 in private high schools throughout the state.  Julie Burkhart, Founder and CEO of Trust Women and South Wind Women’s Center issued the following statement:

“I am profoundly disappointed that Governor Brownback has chosen to hold a publicity tour for this reprehensible law.  By signing SB 95, what is better known as the Physician Criminalization and Intimidation Act, he has already demonstrated disregard for the lives and health of Kansas women and their families.  Reenacting this bill signing in front of children is not only a publicity stunt, but also spreads hate and disrespect, particularly when 30 percent of women who have abortions self-describe as Catholic.  

Signed earlier this month, SB 95 bans doctors from providing the most appropriate medical care for their patients.  It prevents women from accessing the standard of medical care in our state.  It’s a law that will only harm Kansas women by making them travel further, face greater medical risks and likely pay more for necessary medical care. 

Governor Brownback could better spend his time working to fix the profound fiscal problems facing our state.  Our state has an $800 million budget shortfall, and the U.S. Census Bureau recently reported that Kansas had the third largest revenue drop this fiscal year.  Kansas schools are even closing early due to budget gaps.  The attorney general’s office just announced that litigation against SB 95 is likely to cost up to $450,000. This publicity stunt is Governor Brownback’s latest attempt to distract people from the failures of his administration.  Those of us who trust women to make their own health decisions condemn Governor Brownback’s actions and urge him to focus on the issues plaguing our state instead of publicizing this atrocious law.” 

Trust Women opens clinics that provide full-spectrum reproductive healthcare, including abortion services, in underserved communities so that all women can make their own decisions about their health care. Trust Women works to expand access in the Midwest and the South.

The Gayly - April 30, 2015 @ 10am.