Michigan Call to Action
Tomorrow, the GOP-led Michigan Senate will vote on the nation’s cruelest anti-choice bill, HB 5711. If signed by Republican governor Rick Snyder, this bill would force people who have abortions to pay for the burial, cremation, or internment of any fetus 10 weeks or older. For fetuses at 20 weeks gestation, a death certificate would be required, which could expose the patient to the public.
Additionally, the bill bans abortions via telemedicine, limiting access to safe, legal abortion for people living hours from their nearest clinic. It also requires physicians to purchase $1 million in liability insurance if they perform six or more abortions per month, and for clinics to have a full surgical suite, even if the clinic doesn’t offer surgical abortion.
What can you do to stop this bill? If you’re outside Michigan, you can sign this petition demanding the senators vote no on HB 5711. For those in Michigan, you can call your senator today and tell them the same.
If this bill is passed tomorrow, clinics in Michigan could be regulated out of existence - the financial burden placed by anti-choicers could simply be too much to bear. If this happens, people in Michigan will need your help accessing safe, legal abortion. The Abortion Assistance Blog has already had three offers of transportation, two for lodging, and one for child care in Michigan, but we will always need more. If you or someone you know can help the people of Michigan, contact AAB through the Ask or Submit boxes, email (abortionassistanceblog@gmail.com) or Twitter (@prochoicehelp).
The vote has not yet been scheduled today. There’s still time to put pressure on Michigan senators to vote no on this bill.
