Kathleen Gray

Detroit Free Press Lansing Bureau





LANSING – Trying to convince a woman to get an abortion against her will would become a crime under a pair of bills passed by the Senate Thursday.

The bills are needed, supporters said, to protect women from threats from family, employers, pimps and human traffickers who want a woman to end a pregnancy.

"This particular bill today addresses individuals who through force, fraud or coercion may be forced to violate their principles and end the life of another human being," said Sen. Judy Emmons, R-Sheridan, who sponsored the bill.

And Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, said anyone voting against the bills should be ashamed of themselves, "because you're supporting the pimps and human traffickers who victimize women in the state every day."

But Democrats said the bills were just another attempt to pick away at abortion rights of women, taking away the ability to make their own decisions about their own health care.

Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, said the bills aren't needed because current abortion laws require providers to carefully screen women seeking abortions to ensure they haven't been coerced into getting the procedure. She offered an amendment — which failed — that would have made it a crime to coerce a woman to keep a pregnancy against her will.

"This is an answer seeking a question. It's already the law in Michigan," she said. "And this legislation is so vague in its definition of coercion. Its lack of clarity stands to have a number of unintended consequences for families as they work through very difficult decisions."

And Sen. Coleman Young II, recalled that the so-called rape insurance law, which requires women to purchase a separate rider on their insurance if they want coverage for an abortion, was passed on the same day last year.

"Like Groundhog Day, nothing my caucus or what people said has mattered," he said. "You still passed it. And this today is unnecessary legislation that only makes it harder for women to access health care."

The bills would make it illegal to harass or stalk a pregnant woman with the intent of convincing her to get an abortion. The misdemeanor crime would carry a maximum penalty of $5,000 unless the suspect was the father of the unborn child, and if the pregnant woman was less than 18-years-old the fine would rise to $10,000.

If the woman refused to get an abortion, the suspect could not withdraw support that they were obligated to provide, or threaten the woman with being fired from her job.

The bills now move to the House for consideration.

Contact Kathleen Gray: 517-372-8661, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal.