Republicans in Kansas may have gone a tad too far right with this one.
Senate Bill 425 was introduced on February 12th. As first reported by the Kansas Reflector, it would be a monumental change. If passed, it would change the state statute to consider unborn children under the legal definition of a child and would acknowledge them as being people. As such, it allows pregnant women to claim child support for medical and pregnancy-related expenses from the date of conception.
As their report explains, “Any embryo ‘in utero, at any stage of gestation,’ starting from the moment of fertilization, would be considered an unborn child. Courts would be required to add medical and pregnancy-related expenses to the list of factors they consider when adopting rules for child support. The legislation also specifies these expenses cannot include any costs related to ‘elective abortions.’”
Introduced by Kansas State Sen. Renee Erickson (R), he quickly got numerous pro-life groups to express support for his initiative. Kansans for Life spokeswoman Mackenzie Haddix said this financial assistance could lead to fewer abortions. “Overall, no woman should ever feel that abortion is her only option.”
This is a dangerous answer to be undertaking.
Offering payment from the time of conception makes it so much easier to “trap” a man into being a father. Even if it’s not true, they aren’t making provisions to require proof before demanding the named father start paying, so all the mother-to-be has to say is that someone is the daddy. While paternity testing is easily done after delivery, before that, it’s a complicated and risky procedure. Doing one could subject the mother or fetus to undue stress and potential harm.
If they want to do this right, they can put the money in escrow, and people and providers can wait to get paid. Without those provisions, it will be hell for men who are wrongfully accused to get their money back.
