Topeka ? Gov. Mark Parkinson says his views on abortion are “very similar” to those held by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, but he acknowledges he hasn’t studied an anti-abortion bill she vetoed before leaving office.

Parkinson’s comments largely confirm what groups on both sides believed about his position on abortion. They had assumed he supported abortion rights, like Sebelius, because he ran as lieutenant governor on her re-election ticket in 2006.

Sebelius resigned this week to become U.S. health and human services secretary, elevating Parkinson to governor. Legislators who pushed the bill are expected to try to override Sebelius’ veto next week.

“My position is very similar, if not completely similar, to the governor’s position on the abortion issue,” Parkinson said during his first news conference as governor.

The bill vetoed by Sebelius would impose more detailed reporting requirements on doctors who perform late-term abortions. Also, if a woman or girl came to believe her late-term abortion was illegal, then she, her husband or parents could sue the doctor for damages. Also, it would be easier for county prosecutors to investigate and file criminal charges over questionable abortions.

Parkinson said he didn’t review the bill because he and Sebelius thought she would have to deal with it before being confirmed by the U.S. Senate for the HHS job. She vetoed the measure on April 23, five days before being confirmed.

Parkinson is a former Kansas Republican Party chairman who switched parties to run with Sebelius. He served in the House, as a Republican, in 1991-92, then in the Senate in 1993-96.