Abortion clinics look to halt bill

Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri filed a federal lawsuit in Jefferson City on Monday that would block a bill that would temporarily prevent its clinics from performing abortions.

The organization held a press conference Monday to discuss opposition to the bill.

Peter Brownlie, the chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, called the law a “blatant attempt to close clinics in Missouri.”

The organization’s Kansas City clinic provides about 150 abortions per year, all of which are nonsurgical. The Columbia clinic provides 550 to 600 abortions per year, and about half are nonsurgical.

Although the center in Kansas City provides no surgical operations, the law would require the clinic to become licensed as an ambulatory surgical center. The center would no longer provide abortion services if the injunction is denied because of finances and the fewer number of abortions provided at this location in relation to Columbia, according to the public affairs manager, Michelle Trupiano. The Planned Parenthood Health Center in Kansas City, Kan., still would provide abortion services.

The Columbia center could continue to provide abortion services if the clinic acquires a license, which Brownlie estimates would cost the organization about $500,000 to $700,000 in renovations. Abortions could not be provided during construction.

There is currently one physician in Missouri outside of Planned Parenthood who provides abortion services, Brownlie said.

“Women would (have to) travel further and at greater expense and a higher risk to obtain abortions they want and need,” Brownlie said.

Brownlie said Planned Parenthood is prepared to fight the legislation all the way to the Supreme Court. He is confident, however, the judge will grant at least a temporary restraining order on the law.

“We won’t stand by and allow politicians to intimidate women,” Brownlie said.

If the bill is upheld, it would go into effect Aug. 28.