Michigan Lawmakers Approve Key Parts of Hardline Anti-Abortion Law Package [Editorial in Headline!]

Guardian (UK) ^ | June 13, 2012 | Paul Harris

[Steelfish]

Michigan Lawmakers Approve Key Parts of Hardline Anti-Abortion Law Package

Backers of law that will now move to state's Senate are accused of rushing the process forward without adequate hearings

Paul Harris 13 June

Pro-life activists discuss the abortion issue with pro-choice activists in front of the US Supreme Court. Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images Michigan lawmakers have voted in favour of key parts of anti-abortion laws that pro-choice campaigners claim could shut down most abortion clinics in the state.

The state's House of Representatives voted by 70 to 39 in favour of the main new piece of proposed legislation on Wednesday, with two more bills still awaiting votes. The law is now set to move to the state's Senate in September and is likely to put Michigan are the forefront of America's battle over abortion rights.

Described as one of the most hardline recent attempts at passing anti-abortion legislation in America and its backers have been accused of rushing the process forward without adequate public hearings.

The package of bills as a whole aims to introduce tough new insurance and licensing requirements for clinics and ban abortions that take place more than 20 weeks after conception, except for when it might save a woman's life. It also wants to regulate the use of abortion pill Mifepristone and set new guidelines for the disposal of a foetus. However, the bill covering the 20 weeks issue has not yet been voted on.

Critics of the proposals say they represents an attack on women's rights and will make abortions in the state much harder to get, potentially hurting the health of women. "A woman whose foetus is found not viable at 21 weeks will have to carry that foetus to term. That has serious ramifications for the health of the woman," said Groen.

[Steelfish]

Editorializing the headline- Typical left-wing Guardian news story "hardline" anti-abortion law.

[Squawk 8888]

Ironically, most of Europe has much tougher abortion laws. Not sure about the UK, but most countries in Europe prohibit abortions after ~20 weeks.

[Prospero]

Another interesting question that comes to the fore, maybe someone can tell me why we're reading about this in the Guardian. I would thing to have heard about something to "controversial" on the ABC radio news on the hour, along with snippets about the latest presidential poll, and how is "affects Obama," etc.

And this is happening in Michigan? Wouldn't this seem strange if it were happening in Illinois?

[cripplecreek]

Life is an extreme position.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks cripplecreek.

[cripplecreek]

And this is happening in Michigan?

The 2010 GOP wave was bigger here than it was anywhere else in the country. The democrats didn't pick up a single seat above the county level that year.

[netmilsmom]

There is a large protest by PP in Lansing today. Our group could not be there to counter-protest but if anyone can it would be great.

Prayers would be great too!

[CSM]

“Critics of the proposals say they represents an attack on women’s rights...”

Idiots one and all. They talk about “women’s rights” or a “right to privacy” yet the advocated for Obamacare. Hey hypocrits, Obamacare mandates that we all submit our medical records to a federal database.....as a result your “right to privacy” was legislated away by Queen Pelosi.

How does it feel to now have Roe legislated away? Oh, you only want to maintain that privacy so you can commit murder...I get it....