Kansas judge recommends letting anti-abortion law stand

A Kansas judge Monday recommended that federal courts deny an American Civil Liberties Union request that would allow abortion clinics in Kansas to operate unhindered by new, restrictive standards, The Wichita Eagle reported.

A bill was passed in May that requires women to purchase an add-on to their insurance if they want an abortion. The law also blocks abortion services from being covered in the new state health insurance exchanges. The ACLU filed suit in August, saying that the bill would let politicians interfere with health coverage too much.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth Gale recommended that when 104-year-old U.S. District Judge Wesley Brown hears the case, he lift the injunction the ACLU obtained, thus permitting the new law to be enacted.

The ACLU has until September 26 to submit comments and objections to the recommendation.

Gale said that the ACLU hadn't proved that any of its members would be harmed if the law stood.

The ACLU, however, said that it would continue to pursue the case.

"While we await the district court's ruling, we maintain that the state must not be allowed to stand in the way of a woman's access to health care. Thousands of women in Kansas will lose coverage for vital services," ACLU attorney Brigitte Amiri said of the recommendation.

(h/t: @KellyBaden)