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Fetus protection bill enters stage two
ASSOCIATED PRESS
TOPEKA — A proposed "Alexa's Law" for protecting mothers-to-be and their fetuses won first-round approval Thursday in the House, despite questions from abortion rights supporters about whether it's needed.
The bill, advanced on a voice vote, would make it possible to charge someone with murder, manslaughter, vehicular homicide or battery for killing or harming a fetus. It says the definition of "person" for those specific crimes includes an "unborn child" at "any stage of gestation from fertilization to birth."
Although such proposals have been considered before, this year's measure was inspired by the murder of a 14-year-old Wichita girl and named for her near-term fetus whom the family had named Alexa.
Abortion rights supporters are suspicious because abortion opponents back the bill, and its passage is an important goal for Kansans for Life, the state's largest anti-abortion
group. Also, abortion rights supporters noted, the state has laws enacted in 1995 making it a crime to harm a pregnant woman.
However, the bill's backers said they want the criminal law to recognize that when a pregnant woman or girl is harmed, two separate individuals have been attacked.
"The victim's family recognizes it," said Kathy Ostrowski, who lobbies for Kansans for Life. "The medical community understands it. The legal community understands it. It's two distinct DNAs."
Rejection of two alternatives crafted by abortion rights supporters suggested the bill has enough support to pass the House either Friday or Monday, and go to the Senate where it faces an uncertain future.
Similar legislation won House approval in 2002 and 2005, only to die in the Senate without a committee vote.
Thirty-five states have some law making it a crime to kill or harm a fetus, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures,
including Alabama, California,
Illinois, Missouri and Ohio. However,
laws vary state-to-state, and not all
apply from conception.
In Kansas, backers of the proposed "Alexa's Law" point out that
family of the teenage girl. Chelsea Ann Brooks, support it. The proposal has its own Web site.
Chelsea'sbody was found in a shallow grave in Butler County in June, and three suspects were accused of
the state." Brunk told colleagues. "They're ready to call you, but for the moment, I've intercepted them."
"The victim's family recognizes it. The medical community understands it. The legal community understands it. It's two distinct DNAs."
The bill specifically exempts doctors performing abortion, but abortion rights activists still worry that
in movement in the strangling. One, a juvenile, pleaded guilty to a capital murder charge, while two adults await trial.
Rep. Steve Brunk (R-Bel Aire) showed off petitions signed by nearly 6,000 people in favor of the bill, generated by the Web site.
KATHY OSTROWSKI
Lobbyist
"It truly is people rising up across
it represents a first step toward banning the procedure. They found it telling that supporters named the measure after the fetus and not the girl.
Abortion rights supporters twice proposed amendments to
replace the proposed "Alexa's Laws" with proposals for increasing penalties for criminals who harm pregnant women. Both amendments failed, though they embodied an approach supported by Attorney General Paul Morrison, an abortion rights Democrat.
POLITICS
Boyda clarifies misconceptions on war stance
ASSOCIATED PRESS
FORT LEAVENWORTH — In campaigning for Congress, Nancy Boyda blunted questions about her stance on the war in Iraq by telling voters shed support the troops even if she had misgivings about their mission.
That approach worked for the Democrats, but now Republicans are trying to undercut whatever support she enjoys among veterans in the 2nd District of eastern Kansas.
A month into her first term, she faced criticism for voting for a military spending bill that didn't earmark money for construction projects in her district.
"Very few things surprise me in politics — very few things," said
Boyda earlier this week before attending a ceremony at Fort Leavenworth's Command and General Staff College.
"I am surprised at the level of hostility and the personal nature of the attacks, especially when I am working hard to try to clean up the mess I've been left," said Boyda.
The firestorm comes as the House prepares to vote Friday on a nonbinding resolution condemning President Bush's plan to send 21,500 troops to quell the violence in Iraq.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said the Democratic resolution was the first step in a longer campaign to end U.S. participation in the nearly four year-old conflict.
The war in Iraq was part of the platform that helped Boyda defeat
incumbent Republican Jim Ryun in November.
She asked voters to send her to Congress to be more critical of the war, which has claimed more than 3,100 American lives.
But the issue required her to make clear her support for the troops because she participated in prewar protests and the district includes Forts Leavenworth and Riley.
Ryun already has told Kansas Republicans that he's leaning toward a rematch, and he's expected to make an announcement by April.
State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins is considered a potential candidate as well.
In 2008, Boyda is likely to be one of the GOP's "prime targets," said Duke University political scientist
David Rohde.
"That's a reflection of it being such an attractive opportunity," he said. "It's a widely held opinion that Boyda didn't win the district, Ryun lost the district."
He said a few districts like Boyda's are tilted heavily enough toward to the military to make votes in Congress relevant.
And newspaper editorials, state legislators and the Governor's Military Affairs Council all have decried the recent spending vote.
Boyda contends that the House's former GOP majority left her and others in a no-win situation. Congress approved only two of 11 spending bills before leaving power in January.
performed better when they lived on campus, had a campus job, attended classes, met with professors and were involved with university activities. Student Success' project should help discover more about what successful students do and what motivates them toward success-bearing activities.
"It's an important factor and something all students should be concerned about," DeSalvo said. "These are important questions that need to be addressed."
GENDER (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
Women's Resource Center provides academic services to women.
Kansan staff writer Nathan Gill can be contacted at ngill@kansan.com.
— Edited by Kelly Lanigan
"We'll certainly be looking at gender differences". DeSalvo said.
Pitt State shooting case receives revised charges
last month, the city commission agreed to seek the state attorney general's opinion on whether a registry would violate the marriage amendment.
When they discussed the idea
STATE
Initially, all four suspects were charged with felony murder and two counts of kidnapping, alleging they confined two other people by force or threat.
— Edited by Kelly Lanigan
BAXTER SPRINGS — Prosecutors dropped charges against one man in the shooting death of former Pittsburg State basketball player Jamey Richardson and added charges against three other suspects.
REGISTRY (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
Assistant Attorney General Barry Disney dismissed all charges against Geoffrey Hayne.
DeSalvo said there were not programs at the University that targeted men's student success needs on campus. The University's Emily Taylor
Kansan staff writer Matt Erickson can be contacted at merickson@ kansan.com.
want to say, 'We're very progressive.' " Kinzer said.
"In the course of evaluating the original charges and the evidence the Attorney General saw fit to dismiss the charges," said Ashley Anstaett, spokeswoman for the attorney general.
Rep Anthony Brown (R-Eudora) said he thought a partner registry would violate the 2005 state constitutional marriage amendment.
"I think the marriage amendment already, in my mind, clarifies this," Brown said. "I think the issue's already over and done with."
They also are accused of attempting to kidnap Richardson, who was found dead Jan. 30 in a car in front of his Baxter Springs home.
Those defendants, Samuel Becker, Edward Gordon and Aaron Graham, now also face two counts
According to amended complaints filed in Cherokee County District Court, Graham, Becker and Gordon broke into one house in Riveton and another in Baxter Springs on Jan. 30. They are accused of holding four people by force or threat, including the two victims named in the initial charge.
Police said drugs were a factor in his death.
of agravated burglary, one count of kidnapping, one count of attempted kidnapping, two counts of agravated assault and two counts of agravated battery.
Disney also filed an alternative charge of second-degree murder against the three men.
Graham, Becker and Gordon are being held on $250,000 bond A preliminary hearing has been set for May 8.