Michigan Democrats easily pass bill to expand access to abortion.
A bundle of nearly a dozen bills is sailing through the Michigan House of Representatives in what one GOP lawmaker said was “breakneck speed.”
State Rep. Josh Schriver (R-Oxford) told The Epoch Times the proposed Reproductive Health Act (RHA) “is by far the overarching issue of the whole session for me. It’s a feel-good title for a repulsive policy.”
Mr. Schriver said of all the objectionable bills contained in the package, the proposed repeal of the state law banning partial-birth abortions is the most reprehensible.
“It appears this would allow abortions in the third trimester of pregnancy: allowing a fully developed, viable child to be legally aborted right up until birth. Not good,” he said.
Abortion Provider Weighs In
In support of the RHA is leading abortion provider Planned Parenthood of Michigan.
Alexis McGill Johnson, a spokesperson for the group, said in an online statement, “We applaud health care champions across Michigan for introducing this critical legislation and look forward to the historic Reproductive Health Act becoming law.”
“Michigan law still contains a number of dangerous and unnecessary regulations that explicitly target patients and abortion providers and continue to obstruct access to essential care.
“We are grateful to the elected champions sponsoring the Reproductive Health Act because we need to finish the job the voters started last November.
“When we repeal these dangerous restrictions still littering Michigan’s law books, patients will have greater access guaranteed to them under the Michigan state constitution,” Ms. Greear said.
Other provisions in the proposed act would allow Medicaid funds to pay for abortions; and to do away with the mandatory 24-hour waiting period and informed consent requirements, such as women being shown an ultrasound image of their baby and materials explaining what happens during the procedure they are considering. The women are also to be presented with alternatives to abortion.
In addition, the new laws would eliminate building regulations that require abortion facilities to have hospital-grade operating rooms, wide hallways, and be located in close proximity to a hospital.
‘Abortion is Health Care’
“Although abortion is legal in Michigan, it is not accessible to many people who already face systemic barriers to health care … Abortion is health care, and the voters want this right protected,” she said.
The ACLU’s Michigan legislative director, Merissa Kovach, posted on the website that RHA repeals dozens of “medically unnecessary laws that have nothing to do with health care and everything to do with politics.”
“We are thrilled and grateful that our legislature is prioritizing the health of Michiganders … Now is the time for our elected leaders to see this through.”
Mr. Schriver is protesting what he perceives as ramrodding of the controversial package through the Michigan House.
He told The Epoch Times that the Democrat majority “just introduced this out of nowhere last week.”
The agenda didn’t come out until late Monday night.
Mr. Schriver said the big RHA package is being ru
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