Kansas Abortion Bill Raise Taxes On Women Seeking abortions

[doggie]

Kansas Abortion Bill Could Raise Taxes On Women Seeking Procedure

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/0 ... 27301.html

The sweeping anti-abortion bill working its way through the Kansas Legislature would levy a sales tax on women seeking abortions, including rape victims.

Buried in the 69-page bill being considered by the House Federal and State Affairs Committee are several provisions, in fact, that opponents say would increase taxes on those who seek abortions. The tax sections do not include exemptions for women who want an abortion after a sexual assault or to end a life-threatening pregnancy.

The committee is likely to continue discussing the bill Thursday afternoon.

Under the proposal, women who end up receiving abortions would not be able to deduct the cost of the abortion as a health care expense if they had not purchased special abortion insurance, said Sarah Gillooly of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri.

Last year, Kansas enacted a law removing abortion coverage from health insurance plans in general. Women can purchase a special rider to cover the procedure in advance of a pregnancy.

The bill would also levy a sales tax on abortion procedures, including those performed for rape victims, according to both Gillooly and Rep. Sean Gatewood (D-Topeka), the bill's leading opponent. The Kansas Department of Revenue's website says the state has a 6.3-percent sales tax.

Rep. Lance Kinzer (R-Olathe), the sponsor of the bill, did not return a call for comment. A Kinzer staffer said he rarely speaks to the press.

Among other provisions in the proposed legislation are measures allowing doctors to withhold from patients medical information that might encourage them to seek an abortion and prohibiting malpractice suits if the woman or the child suffers a health complication as a result of information being withheld. A wrongful death lawsuit could be filed if the mother dies. The bill also would require doctors to tell women that abortion causes breast cancer and would prohibit state employees from performing abortions on the job.

Language in the bill that could jeopardize the accreditation of the OB-GYN residency program at the University of Kansas Medical Center is unlikely to be amended during the committee's hearing Thursday.

Gillooly predicted the bill would create multiple enforcement issues for the Revenue Department. She said that the abortion deduction ban would allow state auditors to demand individuals' medical records in order to check that deductions were not being claimed for abortion procedures, which she said would violate medical privacy laws.

In addition, Gillooly suggested that the state could end up levying a sales tax on birth control as well under the provision. "How does Walgreens tax abortion medication and not birth control?" she asked rhetorically.

Opponents have asked that the bill be considered by the House Taxation Committee as well, because the federal affairs panel does not have tax expertise. But Rep. Gatewood, who serves on both committees, said it's unlikely that will happen. The Federal and State Affairs Committee deals with a host of issues including abortion, bingo licenses, immigration, land surveying, strip clubs and alcohol.

Rep. Steve Brunk (R-Wichita), chairman of the federal affairs panel, did not return a call for comment.

Gatewood said that if he and others in the House can't stop the bill, they hope the state Senate, which is controlled by a more moderate Republican faction, can stop it. Gov. Sam Brownback ® has told HuffPost that he will sign the bill.

"Basic life-saving stuff, they can't use their insurance on. It is not birth control. It is a matter of life and death," Gatewood said. "I don't know what these people are thinking or if they're thinking."

Update: 3:19 p.m. -- The Federal and State Affairs Committee of the Kansas House has postponed discussion of the abortion bill until Monday.

Rep. Gatewood said that Chairman Brunk announced at the start of Thursday afternoon's committee meeting that the delay will allow legislators more time to review the University of Kansas Medical Center accreditation issue and to draft possible amendments on the issue. Gatewood said that the committee meeting instead will focus primarily on alcohol-related bills, including one to legalize wine tastings in the state.

[shesinsane]

Among other provisions in the proposed legislation are measures allowing doctors to withhold from patients medical information that might encourage them to seek an abortion and prohibiting malpractice suits if the woman or the child suffers a health complication as a result of information being withheld. A wrongful death lawsuit could be filed if the mother dies. The bill also would require doctors to tell women that abortion causes breast cancer and would prohibit state employees from performing abortions on the job.

Arizona is trying for a law that allows doctors to keep silent about patient medical issues. In order not to be outdone, Kansas wants to create a law that will require doctors to lie to patients.

[YPestis]

I think the state medical board will pull some serious punches if they pass a bill that mandates doctors LIE to patients. Abortion DOES NOT CAUSE BREAST CANCER.

In fact, as a 3rd year medical student, do you know who reiterated that abortion DOES NOT increase cancer rate? It was a PROLIFE, MORMON OBGYN who hated that people were spreading medical lies to support a cause he held dear. It was something all the OBGYN attendings repeated to us, but he was extremely adamant because I think it offended his sensibility as a teacher!

We used to joke if our very red state had that law forcing us to stay medical myths to our patients, we will say "Now, the state of ____ mandates I tell you ___, but it is the opinion of the general medical establishment including ACOG, and the opinion of this medical doctor, that is a bag of #$@%"

Then, if that opens up doors to explaining the cancer abortion myths, all the better! :D

See? I just turned what should have been an anti-abortion conversation into one on educating and stopping this myths perpetuation. The state can legislate as much as they want on what I can tell my patients, and I will push right back. :)

[Visionoyahweh]

The bill also would require doctors to tell women that abortion causes breast cancer and would prohibit state employees from performing abortions on the job.

So, like, a school bus driver couldn't drop what they were doing and abort a baby while they were working? :roll:

We used to joke if our very red state had that law forcing us to stay medical myths to our patients, we will say "Now, the state of ____ mandates I tell you ___, but it is the opinion of the general medical establishment including ACOG, and the opinion of this medical doctor, that is a bag of #$@%"

That's probably the best way to handle this idiocy. Why don't they ever discuss what the punishment would be for doctors that give accurate medical advice? I mean, if you correctly told patients that abortion doesn't cause breast cancer or Plan B isn't an abortion, how many years in prison should you get? Do you get your medical license revoked for being right? Seems like framing it that way would work with the masses, but somehow it just doesn't.

[Austin]

They can't "win" the argument on facts, so they've just resorted to lying, plain and simple.