Sunflower State News

Ahead of the Aug. 2 vote on Kansas' Value Them Both Amendment, supporters of the measure warn that if it fails, the state will see a significant influx of people from outside of the state traveling in to seek an abortion.

“Without passage of the Value Them Both amendment, Kansas would become – again – a regional and national hotspot for abortion tourism,” observed Tim Huelskamp, Ph.D., former Kansas Congressman. “The abortion industry has long had its tentacles in Kansas and are spending millions of their profits to legalize abortion on demand in Kansas through all nine months of pregnancy.”

The Value Them Both Amendment concerns the regulation of abortion, without fully banning it. The constitution of the state of Kansas does not require government funding of abortion and does not create or secure a right to abortion.

According to Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, if passed, the Value Them Both Amendment would clarify that there is no right to abortion or taxpayer-funded abortion in the Kansas Constitution and restore the right to enact laws regarding abortion to Kansans and lawmakers.

In a post on his website, evangelical author Dr. James Dobson voiced his support for the Value Them Both Amendment and stated concern that if it were to fail, Kansas would become an abortion destination for out-of-state travelers.

"Without the Value Them Both Amendment, Kansas will become a destination for out-of-state travelers seeking extreme abortions, even up to the moment of birth. This amendment is essential to defend the progress the people of Kansas have made," Dobson wrote. 

Similarly, the Value Them Both Coalition, the group behind the amendment, issued a statement following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overrule Roe V. Wade in June. The statement reiterated why they believe the amendment is right for Kansas, including that without it, the state would "become a permanent destination for extreme abortion procedures."

Abortion clinics in Kansas have already seen a notable uptick in travelers seeking abortions since the Dobbs v. Jackson decision. An article from CNBC following the Dobbs decision highlighted a number of Kansas clinics that were preparing for an influx of people seeking abortions. One clinic noted that 60% of its patients were not from Kansas. The article pointed out that abortion restrictions in nearby states, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas, would result in 8 million women with minimal access to abortion.

Another indicator of a possible rise in out-of-state travelers is the growing number of corporations that have offered reimbursement and funding to their employees who travel to get abortions. The Washington Examiner published a list of over 56 major companies who have made such promises, including Amazon, Disney, Google, Dick's Sporting Goods, Macy's, Starbucks and Yelp.

A survey conducted by co/efficient asked 1,557 Kansas voters for their thoughts on abortion and specifically whether they planned to support the Value Them Both Amendment, according to The Christian Post. Based on responses collected from July 17-18, 47% of likely primary election voters said they plan to vote in favor of the Value Them Both Amendment, while 43% said they intended to vote against it. The remaining 10% were undecided.