Kansas House votes to override Democratic Gov. Parkinson’s veto of late-term abortion measure

Kansas House votes to override abortion veto

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas House members have voted to override Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson’s veto of a late-term abortion bill.

Monday’s 86-35 vote sends the bill to the Senate. The bill needs 27 votes in the Senate to override Parkinson’s veto and become law. In recent years, abortion opponents have not been able to override vetoes in the Senate.

Under the bill, patients or family members could sue doctors if they have evidence an abortion violated state law.

The measure also requires more details in doctors’ reports to the state about abortions of viable fetuses after the 21st week of pregnancy. Kansas allows such abortions only to save the mother’s life or prevent major damage to her health.

No doctor in Kansas is known to perform late-term abortions since last year’s murder of Dr. George Tiller.