Take action to support prevention policies

Your action is needed to put women's health ahead of politics! Michigan legislators are wasting our limited resources by pushing through an unnecessary bill to prohibit abortion methods that were already banned by the ultraconservative U.S. Supreme Court.

Tell your Representative and Speaker of the House Andy Dillon to use a commonsense approach to prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the need for abortion.

Michigan legislators have introduced a solid package of prevention-based policies. If our legislators are truly committed to improving the lives of Michigan women, they would put politics aside and promote these meaningful bills that work to prevent unintended pregnancies. Michigan should be providing adequate funding for family planning programs, equal prescription coverage for contraceptives, information about and access to emergency contraception, and comprehensive sex education programs.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: I oppose SB 776

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Rather than spending your valuable time on SB 776, please reach out to your colleagues to deliver prevention policies that will reduce unintended pregnancies and the need for abortion.

SB 776 is a politically-motivated bill that seeks to ban an abortion method that is already banned at the federal level.

Please focus on real solutions to unintended pregnancy and instead of wasting time on divisive political bills, move forward policies to promote and protect women's health.

Michigan women need adequate funding for family planning services and affordable birth control, comprehensive sex education, equal prescription coverage for contraceptives, and emergency contraception for women who need it.

It is time to put prevention before politics.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 21, 2008

Background Information

Michigan should put the focus on prevention
On June 4, 2007, in Northland Family Planning Clinic, Inc. v. Cox, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit unanimously affirmed a September 12, 2005, U.S. District Court ruling striking down the Michigan Live Birth Definition Act (LBDA). The statute redefines when "live birth" occurs for purposes of all of Michigan's laws, including its criminal laws. Planned Parenthood Mid-Michigan Alliance and Planned Parenthood of South Central Michigan were plaintiffs in the case. This is the first federal court ruling on an abortion case since Carhart II.

Attorney General Mike Cox and STTOP filed petitions with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to review the Sixth Circuit's ruling. On January 7, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court issued orders denying the petitions for certiorari in both appeals, striking down the law in its entirety. This was the third unsuccessful attempt by the state of Michigan since 1996 to ban certain abortion procedures.

In response, the Michigan Legislature is making its fourth attempt to ban abortion procedures. This time, the legislation mirrors federal policy that is already the law of the land. This bill is yet another attempt by extremists to play politics with women's health and lives. This bill will not prevent one abortion in the state of Michigan. Instead, it dictates what medical procedure doctors can perform to protect pregnant women with serious health problems.