Michigan Anti-Abortion Bill On Fast-Track To House Vote

A massive anti-abortion bill, which would drastically limit abortion access, and could potentially shut down all abortion clinics in the state, is on a fast-track through the Michigan State House of Representatives on Thursday.

The Huffington Post reports that the bill was just introduced last week, but that lawmakers held a meeting on Thursday to discuss it, and are sending it to a full house vote on Thursday afternoon.

90 people showed up at the hearing to testify against the bill, according to a Planned Parenthood Mid and South Michigan spokesman, who stated that Committee Chair Gail Haines (R-Waterford) ended the hearing abruptly, cutting off all testimony after only a few people were able to speak, including a Michigan Right to Life spokesperson.

Democratic Underground reports that Meghan Groen, a PPMSM spokesperson, stated:

“We had a lot of doctors there and members of the committee asking questions about what the full ramifications of a lot of these provisions could be, and quite frankly a lot of folks couldn’t answer them.”

The omnibus bill, if passed, would criminalize all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, without any exceptions for rape victims, the health of the mother, or even in cases of a severe fetal anomaly. Democratic Underground reports that it would also require health centers that provide abortions to have a surgery room, even if they do not provide surgical abortions. The bill would require a doctor to be present for medication abortions, and also to screen women for “coercion” before allowing an abortion. Finally, it would create new requirements for the disposal of fetal remains.

The Huffington Post reports that State Rep. Mike Shirkey (R-Clark Lake) fully supports the bill, stating on Wednesday that:

“This [abortion] is nothing short of infanticide. Until we completely eliminate abortions in Michigan and completely defund Planned Parenthood, we have work to do.”