Michigan Senate approves bill to repeal 1931 abortion ban



CNN

The Michigan State Senate on Wednesday voted to repeal the state’s 1931 abortion ban, as well as its sentencing guidelines.

The bills passed 20-18 along party lines in the Democratic-controlled Senate after passing the House last week and were sent to the Democratic governor. Gretchen Whitmer for signing. Democrats control the governor’s office and the state legislature for the first time in four decades.

Whitmer was active supporter abortion rights, using the issue as the driving force behind his 2022 re-election campaign. Governor sued against several district attorneys in her state last year in an attempt to prevent the 1931 ban from going into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

A Michigan law that was invalidated by a 1973 Supreme Court decision but remained on the state books prohibits abortion, even in cases of rape or incest, unless the woman’s life is spared.

Michigan State Senate Majority Leader Vinnie Brinks previously told CNN one of the new legislature’s first priorities will be to lift the ban, which was reintroduced following a Supreme Court ruling last summer.

In September, a state court declared the abortion ban unconstitutional and blocked its enforcement, allowing abortion to remain legal in the state.

Michigan voters enshrined right to abortion in the state constitution during the midterm elections, a move that was supposed to help block the ban from going into effect.

But reproductive rights advocates see the passage of the bills through the legislature as a “great step forward.”

“This is strong evidence that elections matter,” NARAL Pro-Choice America President Mini Timmaraju said in a statement. “Michiganese have made it clear in the interim that they overwhelmingly support reproductive freedom, and lifting this oppressive pre-Roe ban sends an unmistakable signal that Michigan will always fight for access to abortion.”

Democratic senators celebrated the passage of the bill in the legislature on Wednesday.

“My abortion was necessary to save my life,” Sen said. Rosemary Bayer said on Twitter. “I’m glad I’m here today because of this, and to be able to vote on this bill and ensure that this life-saving healthcare is protected, safe and legal here in Michigan.”

However, Republicans in the Michigan State Senate oppose the new effort and call it “dangerous.”

“While Republicans in the Senate have introduced legislation to strengthen safeguards for women, Democrats in the Senate are rushing to pass dangerous bills to remove long-standing guarantees for the protection of women and the unborn,” the Republican senator said. Joseph Bellino said in a statement.