LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is joining Democratic lawmakers to support a repeal of Michigan's abortion restrictions and regulations.
The legislation introduced Tuesday won't advance in the Republican-led Legislature. But the Democratic governor said it's important to advocate for the proposed Michigan Reproductive Health Act because residents "value a woman's right to choose."
The bill essentially gives a woman the right to make her own reproductive health decisions meaning current laws that prohibit or restrict access to abortion would no longer apply, including having women review a pamphlet about the procedure and wait 24 hours before having the abortion.
The bill would also allow insurance companies to cover the cost of an abortion.
“Every woman deserves access to safe, quality, affordable reproductive health care,” said Gov. Whitmer. “The RHA guarantees that people are free to make their own medical decisions, without interference from politicians. I’m proud to support this legislation and will continue to work with everyone who wants to protect every woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive health and ensure that options are available to women everywhere.”
"Women are confident in their decision. They have taken time to consider their options, what it would mean for their lives to continue a pregnancy or stop a pregnancy," said Sarah Wallet, chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood. "This act would just ensure that all of my patients are able to access the healthcare that they deserve with dignity and autonomy."
However, pro-life activists say this would undo the work they've done over the years.
"It would turn us into New York, essentially, and Illinois and some of these other very radical, left-leaning states that want to allow unlimited abortion on demand throughout all nine months of pregnancy. Most people are not okay with that," said Genevieve Marnon, of Right to Life.
Right to Life of Michigan is currently working on a ballot proposal to ban what they call dismemberment abortion. Should the Michigan Reproductive Health Act pass, that proposal would hold no weight.
"I'm very optimistic that it won't go anywhere, that this was really more for the press and her base. I can't imagine that our Republican-held majorities in the House and the Senate would all of a sudden change gears and approve this measure," Marnon said.
Democrats were asked how they plan to get the support they need to push this through.
"We are all acutely aware of how gerrymandered this legislature is and that it's an uphill battle, but it doesn't mean you don't fight it," Gov. Whitmer said.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following statement after the Michigan House Democratic Caucus’ introduction of the Reproductive Health Act:
"Women’s reproductive rights and access to quality health care are under attack across the country. Now, more than ever, we must take concrete steps to ensure the rights of all women are protected under the law."
The bills would repeal an unenforced 1931 law that bans virtually all abortions, remove a parental consent requirement and lift a 24-hour waiting period.
According to Planned Parenthood, the RHA:
• Repeals Michigan’s unconstitutional
1931 law that bans virtually all abortions.
• Removes medically inappropriate
regulations requiring facilities that provide
abortions to be licensed as freestanding
surgical outpatient facilities.
SKIP AD• Increases privacy and safety for minors
seeking an abortion by removing the
parental consent requirement.
• Removes barriers to state and federal
funding for health care entities that also
provide abortion care.
• Repeals laws that require patients seeking
abortion care to receive biased, medically
inaccurate information.
• Lifts restriction on abortion care that forced
patients to undergo a state-mandated 24
hour waiting period, ensuring they can get
the care they need without undue delay.
• Codifies current standards of medical
practice on who can perform abortions.
• Prohibits criminal punishment of pregnant
people for actions they take during
pregnancy that would not otherwise be
made criminal or punishable.
• Lifts the ban on private insurance coverage
for abortion care.
• Removes unnecessary barriers to accessing
abortion via telemedicine.
The legislation would reinforce abortion rights at a time states have passed restrictions conservatives hope will lead the Supreme Court to review Roe v. Wade.
The RHA is sponsored by state Rep. Kristy Pagan (D-Canton).
“A national wave of restrictive and all out bans on access to reproductive health care have swept the country. Even right here in Michigan, we have certain politicians pushing a dangerous agenda to create more barriers to accessing safe medical procedures,” said Pagan. “No two pregnancies are the same and no one needs or wants politicians making medical decisions for them. The women of Michigan are depending on us to guarantee that their personal decision-making stays private between themselves, their doctor and their families.”
Numerous restrictions on abortion care are codified in state law, according to the announcement, and serving as barriers to access for women seeking it as a safe, constitutionally-protected health care option.
“As a doctor, it’s my job to advocate for the health and well-being of my patients. But in Michigan, a pregnant person’s options are limited by policy, and that makes it harder to give patients the best possible care,” said Dr. Sarah Wallett, Chief Medical Officer for Planned Parenthood of Michigan. “People who make the decision to have an abortion should be able to access it without obstacles that do nothing to improve their care.”
The Legislature could bypass Whitmer and enact the measures.
Michigan anti-abortion groups are circulating petitions to significantly restrict a common second-trimester procedure and ban abortion as early as six weeks.
Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing released the following statement after the announcement:
"It’s no surprise that Governor Gretchen Whitmer wants to follow New York’s lead and allow unlimited abortion-on-demand in Michigan. We know most Michiganders do not support secret teen abortions, unregulated medical facilities, or abortions up to the point of birth.
Governor Whitmer claims our petition drive to end dismemberment abortions is banning a ‘safe’ procedure. There’s nothing safe for a child during the later stages of pregnancy when her arms and legs are torn off by forceps, and her body and skull crushed and removed. The bill to end dismemberment abortions has a life of the mother exception, so her rhetoric is as empty as her compassion for viable children who can survive outside the womb.
Profile people have plenty of backbone, which is why we continue to collect 400,000 signatures on a bill to end the dismemberment abortion procedure that rips backbones out of viable children. Most Americans do not support late-term abortions, and it’s time for Governor Whitmer to respect that Michigan values life.
The act has not been introduced yet in the Legislature.
Sponsors of companion bills to the RHA include state Reps. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), Julie Brixie (D-Meridian Township), Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor), Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham), Rachel Hood (D-Grand Rapids) and Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D-Detroit). An RHA package was also introduced in the state Senate to mirror the package in the House.
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