Topeka ? Last week’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling will have little influence on whether Kansas imposes stricter abortion laws, abortion opponents said.

“We love to see the Supreme Court hold to that, but it won’t make a huge difference,” said state Rep. Frank Miller, R-Independence, one of the Legislature’s staunchest abortion opponents.

In an 8-1 decision, the court ruled Thursday that federal racketeering and extortion laws could not be used to stop protests outside abortion clinics.

While seen as a victory to aggressive anti-abortion groups such as Operation Rescue, it was doubtful the decision would ignite any further anti-abortion momentum in the Legislature.

“We’re taking a slow, cautious approach,” said state Rep. William Mason, R-El Dorado, chairman of the House committee that deals with abortion legislation.

The committee has held up proposals by Miller to repeal some exceptions to late-term abortions.

“I don’t expect those bills to see the light of day, but I’ll keep pushing,” Miller said.

The committee did recommend approval of a bill that would apply more regulations to abortion clinics. The full House will debate the measure in two weeks.

“We have a new attorney general and a new governor and everyone has agreed that the key issue this year would be the clinical-standards bill,” Mason said. Abortion-rights advocates oppose the bill.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, and Atty. Gen. Phill Kline, a Republican, were elected in November. Sebelius supports abortion rights; Kline opposes abortion.

Many had speculated that once elected, Kline would try to take action against Dr. George Tiller of Wichita, who performs abortions.

“If this office receives any complaint, we will investigate,” Kline said, adding, “We do not affirm or deny the existence of any investigation because an investigation is not a determination of guilt.”

Kline said he agreed with the Supreme Court decision.

“It was a proper response. The 8-1 vote shows how clear this decision was. This is a law that was designed to put mobsters in prison, not a law that ought to be used on peaceful protesters exercising their First Amendment rights,” he said.