Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue, info@operationrescue.org

KANSAS CITY, Kan., June 29, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- The father-daughter abortionist team of Herbert Hodes and Traci Nauser filed suit in Federal Court yesterday to block the implementation of a new Kansas abortion clinic safety law that requires offices that supply five or more abortions per month to pass inspections and become licensed by the state.

The abortionists have cancelled a scheduled inspection of their Center for Women's Health abortion clinic in Overland Park and are seeking a temporary restraining order to block implementation of the new law. No hearing date had been set as of this writing.

The Federal magistrate assigned to the case is K. Gary Sebelius, the husband of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who is also the former governor of Kansas. While governor, Kathleen Sebelius vetoed similar clinic safety bills on at least three occasions.

"We were shocked to learn that Mr. Sebelius could have anything to do with this case. His wife's administration worked actively to shield abortionists from any accountability under the law. We call on Mr. Sebelius to immediately recues himself," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

Also yesterday, the head of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued a statement saying that none of the clinics inspected so far have passed. If Hodes and Nauser fail to block implementation of the law, Kansas could become the first abortion-free state as of July 1.

Besides the Hodes clinic, there are two other abortion clinics in Kansas. Aid for Women in Kansas City has already been denied a license based on information in their application. Planned Parenthood of Overland Park was inspected last week and still contends that it can be in compliance with the new law by the July 1 deadline, but the KDHE has not yet issued it a license.

"Kansas has a history of having some of the worst abortion clinics in the nation. The abortionists have fought licensing and inspections for years because they know they provide substandard services that simply cannot meet up to even the most basic health and safety standards," said Newman. "Can you imagine any other business refusing to comply with the law? What if a restaurant suddenly stopped submitting to health inspections, or a factory barring OSHA from inspecting, or a coal plant telling the EPA to jump off. Abortionists want to be in a different category, one that is above the law, and that is a dangerous attitude to have in any profession. If abortion clinics cannot or will not clean up as required by law, they deserve to be closed."

View the law suit 

Contact Magistrate Sebelius and ask that he recues himself from this case:

Voice: (785)338.5480
E-Mail: ksd_sebelius_chambers@ksd.uscourts.gov  
 
About Operation Rescue®  
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006.  From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates.