Kansas debates whether abortion measure would stifle economy

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas abortion rights opponents and supporters are so confident that a proposed anti-abortion constitutional amendment will make it onto next year's primary ballot that they've already begun previewing their pitches to voters, including one that suggests such an amendment would hurt the state's businesses.

Ahead of the state Senate's planned debate on the measure Thursday, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly warned that enacting it would lead to boycotts of Kansas and discourage companies from relocating to the state. Kelly, a strong abortion rights supporter, said last year that the proposal would return the state “to the Dark Ages.”

The measure that would overturn a 2019 Kansas Supreme Court decision that access to abortion is a “fundamental” right under the state’s bill of rights. New language would declare that the state constitution doesn't grant the right to abortion and that the Legislature can regulate it in line with U.S. Supreme Court decisions. The measure would not be an abortion ban, but it would allow lawmakers to enact one if the nation's highest court were to overturn its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision protecting abortion rights.

“There are a number of CEOs who really look to see what kind of inclusive policies we have in place that make it easier for them to recruit and retain a talented work force,” Kelly said in a recent Associated Press interview. “It will be an economic development issue for us.”

Kansas would become at least the seventh state with language in its constitution saying the charter does not grant a right to abortion, and Iowa lawmakers are considering a similar measure.

Republicans hold supermajorities in both Kansas legislative chambers, and the measure won House approval last week by more than the two-thirds majority needed to get it on the...