Mich. House Democrats Seeking Re-Election Might Have Difficulty Securing Right To Life Endorsement

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Public Health
Article Date: 03 Jun 2008 - 7:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Antiabortion Democrats in the Michigan House could have difficulty securing endorsements from Right to Life of Michigan in the coming election because some members of RLM are upset over how the elected officials handled votes on two bills related to so-called "partial-birth" abortion, the AP/Battle Creek Enquirer reports. The House last week voted 74-32 to pass a measure (SB 776) that would ban the procedure. Twenty-four House Democrats supported the bill, which Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) is likely to veto.

RLM is threatening to withdraw its endorsement of House Speaker Andy Dillon (D) because a vote has not been held on a companion bill (SB 1049) to the abortion ban that would establish sentencing guidelines. Although the abortion ban legislation itself establishes penalties of up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000, supporters of the companion bill have said that adding the penalties to the state's criminal code would allow for more consistent punishment. Sen. Cameron Brown (R), who sponsored SB 776, said that the companion bill would be helpful but that it would not jeopardize the main bill if it fails.

RLM also is upset that the House took action on two emergency contraception-related measures after passing SB 776 without addressing the companion measure. One EC measure, passed by a 57-51 vote, would provide information about and access to EC to women who have been sexually assaulted. Another measure that would have required state health officials to develop and distribute information on EC was withdrawn before the vote was counted. According to the AP/Enquirer, it is possible that the votes on the EC-related measures were a "trade-off" with Democrats who were opposed to SB 776. Dillon also has been criticized by abortion-rights advocates who questioned why he would schedule a vote on a measure they believe is "election-year posturing" by Republicans because partial-birth abortion already is banned under a federal law (PL 108-105), the AP/Enquirer reports.

RLM not endorsed any House members running for re-election for the 2008 election cycle. The group has sent questionnaires to the opponents of Democratic candidates it has endorsed in previous elections but did not send the questionnaires to opponents of Republican candidates. The group has said it will announce endorsements for Republicans soon (AP/Battle Creek Enquirer, 5/29).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

© 2008 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.

• Additional
• References
• Citations