The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Matt Sharp, director of the ADF Center for Public Policy, regarding the Kansas Legislature’s override Thursday and Friday of Gov. Laura Kelly’s vetoes of several bills:
- The Kansas Intellectual Rights and Knowledge Act (KIRK) Act (part of HB 2333), named in honor of assassinated free speech advocate Charlie Kirk, protects the freedom of students to engage in speech and expressive activities at public colleges.
- A provision in next year’s state budget that prevents taxpayer dollars from flowing to abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood.
- Two bills that strengthen protections for women under the state’s Women’s Right to Know Act: HB 2727 removes burdensome “red tape” that makes it more costly for women to sue abortionists who violate the state’s informed consent requirements, and HB 2729, which standardizes the informed consent form given to abortion-seeking women, including giving women information about alternatives to abortion.
- The Education Freedom Tax Credit bill (SB 361) allows Kansans to receive a federal tax credit for donating to organizations that give families scholarships to attend private schools of their choice.
“Government is at its best when it enacts laws to protect life, women’s health, and free speech and to empower families as they raise their children.
“For instance, public colleges and universities are meant to be free and open to the exchange of ideas. The KIRK Act, named in honor of free speech champion Charlie Kirk, helps ensure that Kansas’ public universities remain places where intellectual diversity flourishes and all students can engage in the exchange of ideas rather than being censored.
“Additionally, Kansans don’t want their tax dollars propping up the abortion industry, so it’s important to exclude abortion giant Planned Parenthood and other abortion businesses from state funding in the upcoming fiscal year—and equally important that women benefit from the state’s informed consent laws without having to wade through unnecessary bureaucracy.
“The Education Freedom Tax Credit opens the door for many families, especially those on low incomes, to decide how best to educate their child, including the option to choose private schools that reflect the families’ values rather than a government-run school.
“We commend the Kansas Legislature for overriding the governor’s vetoes to enact such bills today. We also thank Kansas Family Voice and Kansans for Life for their critical work in support of these bills benefiting Kansas families.”
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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