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Supreme Court Abortion Ruling Will Impact Kansas, Missouri

David
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flickr Creative Commons

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday about a controversial Texas law that has imposed strict requirements on health clinics that provide abortions.

A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Kansas & Mid-Missouri, Bonyen Lee-Gilmore, says the case is hugely consequential for abortion providers in both states because they have similarly restrictive laws.

“If these laws are upheld we will see abortion providers vanish, and if they are stricken we will be able to better argue in our state court the unconstitutional standards that it sets in our state,” she says.

The Texas law requires doctors to have admitting privileges at local hospitals and to meet ambulatory surgical standards.

With the vacancy created by Justice Antonin Scalia’s recent death, Justice Anthony Kennedy is expected to be the court’s crucial swing vote. The court is expected to hand down its decision in June.