As we’ve discussed here before, among the proposed new laws put on Governor Snyder’s desk during the lame duck session of the Michigan legislature, was a package of anti-abortion bills known collectively as the 5711 omnibus. This package, if passed, in addition to stopping doctors from using telemedicine to care for women looking to terminate their early-stage pregnancies in rural communities, would force Michigan abortion providers to implement costly new systems and procedures which would effectively force them out of business. The Republicans, in other words, if this legislation were to pass, would have successfully made an end-run around Roe v. Wade, effectively banning abortion, without actually doing so, and thereby running afoul of the Supreme Court.
Before we move on, there are two things to be aware of. First, regarding telemedicine, you should know that 21 out of Michigan’s 83 counties lack even one OBGYN. Currently, women in those areas who wish to terminate their early-stage pregnancies can consult with doctors, either by phone, or via internet, and have medications prescribed that will abort said pregnancies. (A description of the process can be found here.) 5711 would stop this from happening, forcing women in the Upper Peninsula, for instance, to travel hundreds of miles to receive the same safe, legal and effective treatment. Secondly, according to Planned Parenthood of Mid and South Michigan, there are currently only 32 non-hospital facilities in the state that provide abortions, and only 4 of them are run by Planned Parenthood. (It’s also worth noting, that, according to NARAL, 83 percent of Michigan counties already have no abortion provider.) If 5711 were to be signed into law, it’s like that all of the non-Planned Parenthood facilities would close, leaving, at most 4 facilities left in the state of Michigan that could provide abortions.
I say “at most” because, as I understand it, only one of the four facilities run by Planned Parenthood currently meets the ridiculously overly-stringent criteria established by 5711, and that’s the facility in Ann Arbor. The others, according to Planned Parenthood’s Director of Community and Media Relations Desiree Cooper, with whom I just spoke, would require qualification under a “waiver provision” that’s currently included in the proposed law. Without the waiver provision, as I understand it, that could leave Michigan with one facility, as, according to Cooper, these new “regulations call for unnecessary facilities improvements that could cost upwards of $250,000.” (Unfortunately, according to Cooper, they “don’t know the criteria for waivers yet,” and won’t until after the bill is signed and the political wrangling begins.)
And, that’s only part of the picture. In addition to the 5711 omnibus, there are also several other abortion-related bills waiting for the Governor’s signature. “Also passed by the legislature in this lame duck session are SB 612, 613 and 614,” said Cooper, “which would ban all private insurance coverage of abortion – coverage that is currently considered part of the core benefits for 80 percent of insurance companies nationally. There is no exception for insurance coverage ban even in the cases of rape, incest, fetal anomaly or health of the mother. If a woman wants such coverage, she must buy a separate rider.”
And, as far as we know, all of this is on the Governor’s desk at this very moment, waiting for his signature… which is why I’m asking you tonight to put down whatever you’re doing, and contact him. He needs to hear from you right now. And you need to ask for your friends to do the same.
The Governor may have screwed a lot of us with the recent passage of union-killing right-to-work legislation, but, as he demonstrated yesterday, when he vetoed the legislation that would allow people to carry firearms into schools, churches, hospitals, daycares and stadiums, he’s not completely beyond reason. He knows that passing the right-to-work legislation hurt him badly. He knows that his public support is plummeting, and that, according to a recent poll by Public Policy Polling, only 38% of voters approve of the job that he’s doing, making him the 3rd least popular Governor in the United States. He’s got to know that, if he loses women, it’s all over. But, as we’ve discussed before, there are rumors that he promised to sign this regressive anti-woman legislation into law in exchange for votes on right-to-work. And, if that’s the case, I’m not surprised to hear that he’s putting the decision off to the last possible minute, in hopes that it won’t get press during the holidays. So, that doesn’t give us very much time. We need to convince him right now that he’d be better off breaking his word to few Senate and House Republicans, than encountering the wrath of Planned Parenthood supporters. (You remember what happened to the former head of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, right?) So please make the call right now.
Lastly, if you’re up for it, you can give money to Planned Parenthood here, and support all the good work that they do in the area of women’s health, of which abortion services are just a small part.
22 Comments
Abortion clinics kill 700 babies a day in our country. Close them all. Save the baby humans. Now, back to the bunker…
I knew this would bring you out of retirement, EOS. It’s good to have you back… And I actually really mean that. I wish more people of your persuasion would join in the conversation here.
I doubt that it’s because of this post, but I hear that Snyder’s voicemail is now full.
Should people try to fax him, or is the online form the best bet at this point?
Fax:
(517) 335-6863
Online form:
https://somgovweb.state.mi.us/GovRelations/ShareOpinion.aspx
Fyi I’m pretty sure that SB975 was not passed.
You’re right, Shelley. It passed the Senate, but it never got a full vote in the House. I’m sure it’s something that we’ll see again, but, for now, it looks as though there’s nothing to worry about. I’ll edit the post.
This is from the Advocate:
Rich people can go to Canada, or have procedures done in the private offices of their doctors. This law will not effect them. This is about forcing a twisted sense of morality on the poor, who aren’t, in the view of the Republicans, able to make such decisions for themselves. Believe me, if Snyder’s daughter were to get knocked up at 16 by a boy the family doesn’t approve of, she will be on the next flight to Sweden, Canada, or wherever, to get it taken care of. If a poor girl in inner city Detroit gets into the same situation, it’s because she’s morally deficient, and she should have to live with the consequences of her actions for the rest of her life. That’s what this is all about.
Imagine — just imagine! — if we put the same degree of energy and creativity into regulating “the right to bear arms” that we do into regulating a woman’s right to make health decisions.
Imagine similarly stringent controls over the size, construction and security of every facility licensed to store and sell firearms. Imagine requiring that all gun-related inquiries be handled in person, not by phone or email. Imagine the multiple visits and waiting periods before one could buy any gun. Imagine that each gun owner must have — and pay for — an annual inspection of the home facilities in which firearms are kept, and the operating condition of each firearm.
Imagine that every potential gun purchaser be required to sit through a presentation of close-up crime scene and post-mortem photos of everyone killed in the previous year by weapons purchased and owned by normal homeowners for their “protection”.
Oh, wait a minute. For a minute, I forgot that “Right to Life” ends at birth.
Could these be far behind?
http://markmaynard.com/2011/02/new-business-idea-137/
At least Rick is giving us a new bridge to Canada, which will make it easier for those of us who either decide to leave the country, or just going over for an abortion.
Thanks, Rick.
I’m not looking to pick a fight, but why is that when unions are under attack we can mobilize 15,000 in Lansing, but when women are under attack there’s no uprising? Only about 17% of Michigan’s adults are in unions. A full 50% are women.
that’s an excellent question, knox.
That is an excellent question. I could be cynical and say that the union issue affects both men and women and so more people care about but since abortion only affects women* then fewer people care.
*In reality, it can certainly affect men. If a woman has your kid & comes after you for child support, say goodbye to about 25%-35% or more of your salary for the next 18 or so years. (Sorry for the cynical view but I did divorce/custody law for seven years….trust me, that is how some people viewed the situation).
PS: Welcome back, EOS!
Back ally abortions are coming back to Michigan!
Now you are talking about solutions to real problems. I hate to link this back to Newtown, but the real problem in this country is parenting. It’s easier to have a child than it is to adopt a puppy. The last thing we need in this world are unwanted, lonely, abused, abandoned children growing up to be anti-social, abusive, sociopaths. If a mother feels she cannot handle the responsibility of being a good parent, she should have the right to an abortion. On the other hand, I also believe the father should be consulted, but that is an argument for another day. Nice job, Mark.
What this is: it is a test.
If you aren’t smart enough to leave this polluted, anti-intellectual, in-bred state: you deserve to be bent over and forced to assume whatever ‘wide stance’ a fringe cult of know-nothings want you to assume– and as always, for their pleasure.
On the rise of DIY abortion:
Read more:
http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/magazine/111368/the-rise-diy-abortions
Apparently Snyder signed 5711 late this afternoon.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/planned-parenthood-reports-record-year-for-abortions/article/2517801#.UOtYiXy9KSN
I’ve been thinking about the ramifications of this legislation. Presently, there are over 30 facilities in the state that offer abortions. This includes four Planned Parenthood locations. I don’t know the Michigan-specific numbers, but, nationwide, it’s been reported that only 3% of Planned Parenthood’s funds are spent for abortion services.* Assuming 25 or more of these in-state abortion providers close their doors as a result of 5711, that means that the remaining Planned Parenthood facilities will likely have to do considerably more abortion related work, meaning that they won’t be able to provide the same level of service when it comes to breast cancer screenings, STD treatment, etc. In other words, I think there are going to be serious unintended consequences.
* http://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2013/01/08/foxs-distorted-picture-of-how-planned-parenthoo/192092
http://www.sba-list.org/sites/default/files/content/shared/pp_fact_sheet_2011_2012_annual_report.pdf
We wouldn’t be alone. Mississippi only has one abortion facility, and it’s in danger.
http://www.salon.com/2013/02/01/mississippis_last_abortion_clinic_hangs_in_the_balance/
It worked so well in Michigan, they’re trying it in Texas.
The legislation would leave Texas with only five facilities providing abortions.
Read more:
http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2013/02/13/texas-lawmakers-propose-trap-bill-that-could-eliminate-all-but-five-providers-in-state/
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