Got to love that good news!
A Michigan law that could potentially outlaw all abortion has been delayed (it was supposed to go into effect March 30) until a federal court can hear challenges its constitutionality.
The Legal Birth Definition Act is one of the most extreme anti-choice laws the U.S. has seen since Roe. It redefines “birth” in an attempt to ban all abortion in the state – and it doesn’t even have an adequate exception to protect women’s health. Shocker.
Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Michigan, Rebekah Warren, said that “by using an obscure political process to pass this draconian law, Michigan is forcing a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade - a challenge that could succeed if President Bush is able to add just two new anti-choice judges to the Supreme Court." Eek.
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And here I thought Michigan was a Blue-State. What a shame. I guess it really is open season on women's reproductive rights for the next four years.
this is definately good news to block anti-abortion. it would never pass anyway, as it would counter the decision of the higher court's (i.e. national supereme court) R v. W decision.
Oh, and pseudo, can we lay off the blue/red state thing? It's so old, and it does nothing but trivialize the country as "one way or another" and mock either side. Contrary to what some people think, not everyone from NYC is a communist-hippie and not everyone from Ohio is a racist-religious freak-hick.
I'm well aware of that James, it's called sarcasm. Calm down.
didn't really see the sarcasm, but you're probably right. it's just too bad that people really DO see this country as divided (hense the stupid "jesusland" t-shirts showing the states that voted bush as "Jesusland" and the rest as "USA"). The county-by-county maps (i remember it was in newsweek) showed how "purple" the country really is.
I think that Newsweek map was right. And I, for example, live in a Red State ;-) So no. Just because you're Red or Blue doesn't mean anything. Hell, there are probably white supremacists in San Francisco.
Actually, james, the law has already "passed" in that it was enacted via a citizen's initiative. The state agreed to an injunction, preventing enforcement of the law, until the federal court can hear arguments about its constitutionality.
And while the law certainly violates both Roe v. Wade and Casey, and thus is likely to be struck down, the more troubling issue is that despite this, groups such as those in Michigan continue to pass laws that intentionally push the boundaries of Roe adn Casey. (See also, your lovely Congress which passed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban). By doing so, they demonstrate their cavalier attitude about protecting women's constitutional freedoms. They also force groups like the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, etc. to discuss the details of abortions in the public arena (the courts, the legislatures, the media), which of course are none-too-pretty (as with most medical procedures), and thus we can all be disgusted and horrified at what these crazy abortion-lovers are trying to keep legal. As an added bonus, the promoters of these laws get to don their halos and wings, and when their crazy laws are shot down, they get to be tireless martyrs. Andthey march on, spending their time and energy thinking of new ways to gnaw away at Roe and Casey, thereby screwing women everywhere.