Kari Ann Rinker is a former State Coordinator and Lobbyist for Kansas NOW. She has testified in numerous legislative hearings on issues ranging from the State ERA, Domestic Violence, Voter ID and Reproductive Rights. Since the assassination of Dr. George Tiller, Kari Ann has devoted much of her time toward grassroots activism and legislative action for women’s access to safe and legal abortion. Kari Ann been a visible force in both Kansas and National media speaking out on women's issues effecting Kansas. She has appeared on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow and the Lawrence O'Donnell Shows, NPR and been quoted in the Los Angeles Times. She traveled to Nebraska to help defend the clinic of Dr. Leroy Carhart in 2009 and again to his clinic in Maryland 2011. She has a B.S. in Organizational Management and Leadership from Friends University and a Masters of Public Administration and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Wichita State University.
When she was Governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius was a backstop for the pro-choice community on many anti-choice bills. However, she was also known to play a little politics with women’s health. Let’s hope that she doesn’t choose this issue to toss to the rabid dog Bishops as some kind of “pro-life” contraceptive Scooby Snack.
What young women need (beyond the obvious need for greater access to low cost birth control and improved sex education in schools) is a boost to their self-esteem, mentors, and to be told that they possess greatness within themselves beyond what can be obtained by any man, babies, money, drugs or alcohol. They sure don’t need the condescending and biased advice of Sam Brownback and the Heritage Foundation.
Governor Brownback’s policies are designed to favor the likes of the Kochs, not the kids of Kansas. His “town halls” are further proof of the control that our governor demands over every interaction, every policy and every man, woman and child within Kansas boundaries.
I have to say that while many of my other Wichita friends and acquaintances are excited about the development of a new drama inspired by Dr. Tiller’s life, I remain skeptical. Will it depict the integrity by which he lived?
A professional ethics panel recommended Thursday that former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline–who incessantly harassed Dr. George Tiller–have his state law license suspended indefinitely over his conduct during criminal investigations of abortion providers.
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The Topeka City Council tonight failed to repeal an ordinance allowing domestic abusers to leave jail to save money, leaving the women of Topeka with no recourse against abuse within the city. If they wish for justice to be served, women will have to be geographically located outside of the city limits… and even that is no guarantee of protection.
Government, even at its most basic level, exists to protect citizens within its geographical boundaries. A fight over a budget has stripped this community of this basic function of protection, from women who need it the most. We speak from personal experience: Kansas NOW lost our former lobbyist Jana Mackey to an act of relationship violence.
An ACLU’s suit against Kansas private insurance abortion ban focuses on three points: The law acts as an unconstitutional tax on women, it serves no legitimate state interest, and it constitutes gender discrimination.
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Anti-choicers are targetting a Maryland father and medical office landlord by “protesting” at his daughter’s school.
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I am the state coordinator of Kansas NOW. Today, I testified at a hearing held by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on the proposed TRAP regulations. Here is what I told them.
