Supporters want to put the proposal on the ballot in the August 2022 primary, so that taking a few weeks more to consider it—or the full legislative session—wouldn’t affect that timing. But getting the measure on the ballot will require two-thirds majorities in both chambers, and anti-abortion lawmakers and groups worry that even a few absences among their ranks caused by COVID-19 would prevent its passage, particularly in the House.
The pandemic is shaping how GOP leaders view work on other issues as well. The Senate suspended its rules Thursday so that members could take “emergency” final action immediately on a bill extending a law governing the state’s pandemic response and a bill aimed at holding down local property taxes, rather than waiting until Tuesday. Such a move is common at the end of a legislative session when time is running out, but unusual for the first week.
And Kansas lawmakers have only to look to neighboring Missouri, where the state House suspended operations for this week because of a COVID-19 outbreak. In Kansas, final action on a bill requires lawmakers to be in the House or Senate chamber or its galleries to vote.
“An absence is the same as a no,” said Rep. Stephanie Clayton, an Overland Park Democrat who opposes the constitutional amendment on abortion. “They have to make sure this takes place before all of our health declines in such a way that we’re not able to come to work and, you know, time’s running out on that.”
The proposed amendment failed in the House last year when a few Republicans and Democrats in heavily Catholic districts objected to putting it on the ballot for the narrower, more conservative primary electorate rather than the broader, more centrist November electorate. Abortion foes believe the issue is less of an obstacle this year because many of the objecting lawmakers either retired or were defeated.
“The voters spoke very loud and clearly and we are taking that to heart,” said House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican.
EDITORS: This story has been corrected in the 11th paragraph to show that the Family Policy Alliance of Kansas advocacy director’s name is Brittany Jones, not Brandi Jones.
This article originally appeared on APNews.com.
