Michigan Gov. Granholm Vetoes Abortion Ban Legislation Mirroring Federal Law

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 17 Jun 2008 - 7:00 PST

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Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) on Friday vetoed a bill (SB 776) that would ban so-called "partial-birth" abortions except in cases where women's lives are in jeopardy, the AP/International Herald Tribune reports. Granholm said she vetoed the measure because it did not include an exception for cases in which the woman's health is at risk (AP/International Herald Tribune, 6/14).

According to the AP/Mlive.com, there are enough votes in the House to override a veto but not likely enough in the Senate. Granholm has vetoed similar legislation in the past. Granholm's spokesperson Liz Boyd said that the governor is committed to protecting the health of pregnant women.

The legislation "mirrors" the federal ban (PL 108-105) that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year does not violate a woman's constitutional right to an abortion (Eggert, AP/Mlive.com, 6/12). The Michigan bill would make violating the ban a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and/or a $50,000 fine. Abortion opponents say that a state law is necessary to enable state and local authorities to enforce the ban. Abortion-rights supporters argue that the state bill is unnecessary given the federal ban (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/29).

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