Rep. Dodson Is No Ally of Women
This is an open letter to my current Kansas House Rep. Mike Dodson:
Shame on you, Mr. Dodson.
Shame.
On.
You.
You had an opportunity to represent Manhattan’s District 67 on January 22, 2021 by voting NO on HCR 5003—the resolution that put the “Value Them Both” constitutional amendment on the ballot.
Instead, you fell along party lines and voted YES - thereby leaving women to fend for themselves.
You decided to upend the Kansas state constitution - a pretty extreme decision - and put at risk women’s rights to their bodies.
You decided to upend decades and decades of legal protections of women. For what? Why?
You were supposed to protect us. Instead, you left us dangling over a pit of snakes where we had to fight and claw ourselves out of danger.
Shame on you.
You talk ad nauseum about referendums. If you say you’re a big fan of them, then why did you vote NO on Rep. Jason Probst’s amendment that would’ve moved the election date to the General Election in November of 2022 rather than the August primary election?
You know damn well that turnout is low in August elections - across the country and especially in Kansas.
So if you truly cared about the will of the people, you would’ve been happy to move such an important vote to a date when there’d be the most turnout.
Meanwhile, how about this amendment proposed by Rep. Barbara Ballard? —This amendment inserted an exception for rape, incest, or the mother’s life.
Mr. Dodson, let me remind you of your vote: you voted NO.
Not only did you vote to force a woman or even a child to carry the fetus of a rapist, you voted for the death of women.
I can’t help but take this as a reflection of your view of women. You don’t trust women to make their own choices. You see women as unworthy of owning their own bodies. You see women as dispensable.
Shame on you.
You voted to put women’s lives on the line. Is that because you bend to the Republican caucus? Is that because you’re completely out of touch with the people in District 67? Hell, with the people across the entire state!
Because we came out in droves to let you know just how gravely out of touch -AND DANGEROUS- you are.
Did you think we wouldn’t notice your 2022 endorsement by Kansans for Life, the PAC that led the charge against women.
Congratulations on your endorsement by Kansans for Life!
I mean, that anti-women group told us they’ll be back. We know this isn’t going away as long as representatives like you stay in office.
I have no doubt in my mind you’ll fall in line once again with Republican extremism and move to put another version of this oppressive amendment back on the ballot - once again, dangling us over that pit of snakes.
Mr. Dodson, you are a threat to women. This is why you do not deserve another day in the legislature.
Your pro-choice constituent,
Kim Zito