Michigan House Backs Pro-Life Bill Limiting Abortions

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jun 13, 2012   |   7:42PM   |   Lansing, MI

The Michigan state House approved a package of pro-fie bills intended to protect women and unborn children and further drive down the number of abortions in the state.

However, lawmakers removed a measure that would ban abortions after 20 weeks based on the notion that unborn babies feel pain from the package. They said they wanted more time to study whether or not the legislation would be likely to be upheld in court.

According to the Detroit News:

“We decided not to take that up right now so we can discuss the legislation further,” said Ari Adler, spokesman for House Speaker Jase Bolger, R-Marshall.

“Even taking emotion out of the equation, this package (of bills) is good policy,” said Rep. Bruce Rendon, R-Lake City, the sponsor of omnibus legislation, House Bill 5711.

The House approved the omnibus abortion regulations bill 70-39 on mostly partisan lines with six pro-life Democrats crossing over to vote with the GOP majority.

Democratic representatives voting for the bill were Charles Brunner of Bay City, Paul Clemente of Lincoln Park, Bob Constan of Dearborn Heights, George Darany of Dearborn, Richard LeBlanc of Westland and Lisa Liss of Warren. Rep. Harvey Santana, D-Detroit, was absent from the vote.

The state legislature has now adjourned for its summer recess and the package of bills will then head to the state Senate for consideration.

On June 7, the Michigan House Health Policy Committee voted 13-5 to pass the Prolife Bus bill, which represents the largest collection of prolife legislation ever addressed at one time in the Michigan legislature. House Bill 5711 is an omnibus bill combining several currently introduced pro-life bills into one large new bill.

Right to Life of Michigan Legislative Director Ed Rivet said, “The resolve of the pro-life majority on the House Health Policy Committee was unwavering. The best interests of women, their unborn children and the state of Michigan were well-served by the committee members who voted to pass the Pro-life Bus bill.”

On the other side, about 200 Planned Parenthood supporters have gathered at Michigan’s Capitol to protest legislation aimed at restricting and regulating abortion practices. The group ringed the Capitol’s Rotunda Tuesday chanting, “This is our house,” and “We’ll remember in November.”

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House Bill 5711 is an omnibus bill combining six introduced pro life bills into one large bill (45 pages). Omnibus bills of this nature have become common in Lansing and are referred to by the shortened moniker of a “bus.” Right to Life of Michigan provided LifeNews a description of the bills and says it is urging pro-life advocates to contact members of the state legislature now to support the bill by going here. The bill package includes:

Coercive Abortion Prevention – screening women seeking abortions for possible coercion to abort, require an anti-coercion sign posted in abortion clinics. (HB 5134 & 5182) The two additional new bills attached to the Bus, HB 5712-13, complete the Coercive Abortion Prevention package by defining coercion to abort as a crime and providing penalties. (HB 4798-99)

Humane disposition of aborted babies – require bodies of aborted children to be buried or cremated. (SB 25 & 54 or HB 4119-4120)

Prohibit “Webcam” abortions – prohibits prescribing abortion pill by remote consulting over the Internet. (HB 4688/SB 420)

Abortion clinic licensing – require any abortion clinic or private physician office advertising outpatient abortion services to be licensed as a Freestanding Outpatient Surgical Facility. (HB 5522)

Abortionist malpractice insurance – require abortionists to carry $1 million in malpractice insurance or carry an equivalent bonded surety. (SB 876)