LANSING — Michigan Democrats in the State House voted to repeal numerous laws that were designed to limit access to reproductive health care. The votes passed along party lines and would repeal:
- A 2013 law that prohibits insurance companies from covering abortion unless customers pay extra for an optional “rider”.
- The state’s so-called partial birth abortion ban that generally bars late-term abortions even when the health of the mother is at risk.
- Regulations and building codes for abortion facilities criticized for making it hard to open new clinics.
Other restrictions such as the 24-hour waiting period and a restriction on Medicaid paying for reproductive health care were held up by Detroit Democrat Karen Whitsett. Without evidence, Whitsett has stated that she is afraid that allowing people on Medicaid to access healthcare would threaten the ability for other on Medicaid to access healthcare.
