Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report Highlights Women's Health Policy Issues Related To 2006 Elections

The following highlights recent election-related news on women's health issues.

• Kansas: Although the outcome of the state governor race could "determine how abortion is regulated" in Kansas, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), who is running for re-election, and her opponent state Sen. Jim Barnett (R) have not made abortion rights a central issue of their campaigns, the AP/Wichita Eagle reports. Barnett, who opposes abortion rights and has been endorsed by Kansans for Life, has said that he believes late-term abortion restrictions should be strengthened and that additional clinic regulations would protect women's health, according to the AP/Eagle. Sebelius, an abortion-rights supporter, has pledged not to seek changes in existing abortion-related restrictions on the procedure. Both candidates have decided to focus on other issues, such as education and health care. "The advocacy groups have identified who their supporters are, and they're informing them of the various candidates' positions" on abortion rights, according to state Sen. Phil Journey (R) (Hanna, AP/Wichita Eagle, 9/1).
  


• Vermont: State Sen. Mark Shepard (R), who is seeking the Republican nomination in a U.S. House race in Vermont and who opposes abortion rights, on Thursday called for the passage of a bill (S 403) that would allow federal prosecutors to file charges against individuals who transport minors across state lines to avoid state parental notification or consent laws, the AP/Barre Montpelier Times Argus reports (AP/Barre Montpelier Times Argus, 9/1). The U.S. Senate last month voted to approve the bill, and the House in April 2005 voted to approve a similar bill (HR 748), but the House legislation has some differences from the Senate version. Shepard on Thursday also "took aim" at Martha Rainville (R), who also is seeking the Republican nomination for the seat, because she has not taken a position in favor of the legislation, the AP/Times Argus reports. Rainville spokesperson Brendan McKenna said that Rainville supports the principle of the legislation but that the campaign does not comment on specific bills without reviewing them first. Carolyn Dwyer -- campaign manager for Peter Welch, who is the Democratic congressional candidate for the seat -- said Welch supports abortion rights, adding that he thinks minors undergoing an abortion should have a "consenting adult" with them and that the adult in most cases should be a parent (AP/Barre Montpelier Times Argus, 8/31).

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