15
2012
Kowall, others eye ban on abortions after first 20 weeks
An article by Kirk Pinho
In an effort almost sure to spark a backlash from pro-choice groups and Democrats, several members of the Republican Caucus of the state House of Representatives — including the entire GOP delegation from west Oakland — are proposing that the state ban abortions after the 20th week of gestation.
The two-bill proposal, sponsored by state Rep. Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake, Highland), would create the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and subject someone who performs an abortion to a felony sentence of up to 15 years in prison and/or up to a $7,500 fine.
The legislation states that “substantial medical evidence” concludes that an unborn child is capable of feeling pain 20 weeks after fertilization.
An exemption is carved out in cases where the life of the mother is at risk. However, no such provision exists for cases of rape or incest.
Asked why no such exemption is drafted into the two bills, Kowall said, “I guess the way to look at it is that two wrongs don’t make a right.”
House Bills (HBs) 5343 and 5344 have been referred to the House Health Policy Committee, which is chaired by state Rep. Gail Haines (R-Waterford, West Bloomfield). Although Kowall said she hadn’t had a chance to speak with Haines about the legislation as of last week, she said she hopes to get some movement on the bills in “more like May or June,” after the state budget for Fiscal Year 2012-13 is finalized.
“I’ve always espoused the right-to-life issue,” said state Rep. Bill Rogers (R-Milford), adding that he’s “always struggled” with whether abortions should be banned in cases of rape and incest. He also added that, should such an amendment be slipped into the bill during the legislative process, it would likely still earn his support.
“I think that’s still a step in the right direction,” he said.
Haines agreed.
“I will probably still be able to support it,” she said. “I obviously want it to come out of committee clean and I would prefer not to have an amendment, but if it needs an amendment, we’ll get it done.”
“This is just another big government, divisive action that does nothing to move Michigan forward,” said state Rep. Lisa Brown (D-West Bloomfield, Commerce, Wolverine Lake). “If my colleagues are truly interested in reducing the number of abortions, I urge my them to work with me to find common ground solutions that will prevent unintended pregnancies in the first place.”
Medical experts at DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital in Commerce Township declined to comment for this story.
About the Author: Kirk Pinho
Kirk Pinho is the assistant news editor for the Spinal Column Newsweekly and covers Oakland County and state politics and government. He holds an MFA in poetry from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and a BA in creative writing and political science from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. He first started with SCN Communications Group in 2005 as a staff writer and became assistant editor in 2010.
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Jesus, and the book these hateful people base their philosophy on is a fraud.
I will pray for you … peace be with you.
Please refrain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_scandals_involving_evangelical_Christians
Is not one of the most basic planks of the Republican platform a reduction in government?
Why is it that the true aim is control?
Actually, this supports several conservative principles. Conservatives support life, and when it comes to abortion conservatives will always attempt to reduce or eliminate the killing of innocent children that don’t have a voice. Under Obama Care, health insurance companies would be required to pay for abortions. In turn, these costs will be passed on to the consumers through the price of their policies. So on behalf of the consumers, conservatives are trying to reduce eventual costs of funding abortions. And lastly you are correct, this is “more government”, but is a response to massive liberal government and wouldn’t be neccessary if liberal policies were repealed.
Did Jesus teach you circular logic? Republicans need to increase the scope of government because Democrats did it as first??? What?
Do you realize that the bible is an allegorical fable?
“An exemption is carved out in cases where the life of the mother is at risk. However, no such provision exists for cases of rape or incest. Asked why no such exemption is drafted into the two bills, Kowall said, “I guess the way to look at it is that two wrongs don’t make a right.”
That’s one of the most moronic comments I’ve heard recently coming from a politician.
By Kowall’s flawed logic, a rape victim should be forced to have the rapist’s baby if she doesn’t abort it soon enough. Talk about adding insult to injury!
For someone who professes to wanting ‘less’ government, Kowall sure does like ‘more’ of it when it suits her own personal religious interests.
The way I see it, the government should never get between a woman and her doctor when it comes to personal and private medical decisions.
So AJ … you’re saying that, in a case of rape or incest, a women wouldn’t realize by 20 weeks that she was pregnant and, should she choose to, terminate the life of her baby (which unfortunately, would still be legal)?
Isn’t “I didn’t know I was PREGNANT” a TV series? http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/i-didnt-know-i-was-pregnant
Take a long look at the Middle East and ask why we should model our society based on the folklore of a failed culture.
Have you ACTUALLY READ the bible?
. Examine the actually history of your faith John and then ask why any of us would want to life this way.