LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – After convening to vote on several bills pertaining to abortion, including legislation that would repeal the 1931 Abortion Ban law in Michigan, the House has voted to overturn the nearly century old law. 

The legislation introduced and sponsored by Speaker Pro-Tem Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia), HB 4006 which repeals the 1931 law, which states it’s illegal for any individual, mainly doctors, to assist with an abortion passed in the Michigan House 58 yes votes to 50 no votes.  The house also voted by the same margin to pass House Bill 4032 which repeals related sections of the Michigan penal code. 

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Both bills earned immediate effect after Majority Floor Leader Abraham Aiyash (D-Hamtramck) motioned to do so. 

Eleven representatives spoke on the floor ahead of the vote, with Representative Christine Morse (D-Texas Township) speaking first. 

“Bodily autonomy is critical to the idea of personal liberty,” Rep. Morse said, “This body has carried three pregnancies to term. This body has experienced severe hemorrhage during childbirth. This body has recovered from a third degree tear after hours of post delivery surgery.”  

According to Representative Morse, legal abortion saved her life, and she likely would not be alive today to have raised her children if abortion had been illegal.  

Representative James DeSana (R-Carleton) rose in defense of the 1931 statute that he claimed protected life, cautioning that whatever protections may have been left from Proposal 3 would be nullified by the new bills. 

“These bills are an unnecessary attempt to spike the ball and further degenerate the unborn child and the sanctity of life,” Representative DeSana said, “We know what the results of the last election, and where the unborn child stands in Michigan.”

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Unlike other speakers, Representative Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor) explained that he had no wife and children but appealed to his constituents’ wishes. 

“I am a gay man without a wife or children, but I have a stake in reproductive freedom because my constituents have a stake in reproductive freedom,” Rep. Morgan said.

Later, Representative Rachelle Smit (R-Shelbyville) testified on the floor reminding the house of how dangerous abortions can be.   

“I rise today to implore everyone to pause, and to look at what we’re doing,” Representative Smit said, “we are removing a law designed to protect women but what are we replacing it with? Nothing.” 

She also called the house’s attention to the name Cree Irwin, whose abortion resulted in the loss of the young 24 year old’s life, after pursuing a first trimester abortion at a local Planned Parenthood. 

“This tragic death is just one example of how abortion is not safe, and it is not good for women,” Smit said. 

Representative Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) was the final speaker in support of the bill packages, ending her speech by ripping a copy of the 1931 ban.  

“Last November voters in Michigan overwhelmingly supported proposal 3, which enshrines the right to reproductive freedom, including access to abortion in our state’s constitution,” Representative Pohutsky said, “In doing so voters rendered Michigan’s draconian 1931 criminal abortion ban unconstitutional.”  

The people of Michigan have made it crystal clear according to Pohutsky that they want abortion to remain safe and accessible here.  

The Senate will take up the package of bills to determine whether the governor will sign this into law.