The state Senate adopted bills Wednesday to repeal Michigan’s dormant abortion ban. The Senate action will send the bills to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who has promised to sign them.
Repealing the 1931 law was high on the list of Democratic priorities in this session, and the Senate votes fell along party lines. The law is moot due to a voter-approved amendment to the Michigan Constitution.
But Senator Rosemary Bayer (D-Keego Harbor) said the Legislature should strike the law out of respect for what voters decided when they adopted the reproductive rights amendment.
“They voted to maintain the right of all Michiganders to make their own healthcare decisions, to make their own family planning decisions, to decide what happens to their own bodies,” she said. “These bills simply remove old language that prohibits that freedom.”
The bills to repeal the abortion law were adopted on party-line votes.
“I will not vote in support of what is before this body today,” said Sen. Joseph Bellino (R-Monroe). “I encourage a ‘no’ vote on this legislation and hope to see my colleagues propose changes to protect the rights of parents as well as the most disenfranchised among us – the unborn.”
Republicans like Sen. Thomas Albert (R-Lowell) said the amendment should allow room for some restrictions.
“That is certainly some creative marketing,” he said. “Abortion is not health care for the unborn child.”
“Let me remind you, a person’s reproductive health care decisions, including abortion, is none of your business,” said Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor), who called the dormant statute a “zombie law” that doesn’t reflect the will of voters.
Senate approval clears the way for the bills to go to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who said she will sign them.
