To the editor:

I hope that our Lawrence legislators will follow the lead of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and vote to sustain her veto of House Bill 2176.

This bill could potentially shut down reproductive health clinics just because they perform abortions. No other medical procedure in Kansas is singled out for such extreme regulation, even though many are far riskier. Do any other office-based surgery centers pay a $30,000 annual licensing fee? It is clear that there is an agenda that is being pushed with this bill, and it has nothing to do with promoting health.

Legislators need to know that their constituents are watching how they vote on this bill. Will they use sound, reasonable judgment or will they sell out for politics?

Matt Johnson,

Lawrence