the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Dec 10, 2012
Michigan state legislators have already voted to limit a woman’s right to abortion in Michigan. The legislation shot through both houses of state government attached to bills regarding Blue Cross Blue Shield’s business structure. The attached amendment to make abortion coverage available to women only through supplemental policies was added as a last minute rider that would apply to other insurance carriers as well. It is ready for signing into law by Governor Snyder.
Today, around 80% of health care policies in the state cover abortion. The law would not just prevent women who have an unwanted pregnancy from having an abortion paid for under their current policy. It would also apply to women who have problem pregnancies and have to abort fetuses late in pregnancy for complications that threaten the mother’s life or prevent the fetus from being born alive or surviving after birth. These types of abortions are tremendously expensive and not within the financial reach of most women. After the new laws, in order for any abortion to be paid for, it would have to be under a policy or rider separate from the regular insurance coverage. And most likely, it would have to be paid for by the woman herself.
Another similar piece of legislation was passed by the Senate and will continue through the House. This set of three bills will do the same thing for the future purchase of health care policies on the upcoming state health care exchange.
A third set of bills would allow doctors to refuse to perform abortions.
These bills are a horrific attack on women and a woman’s right to control her own body. While right wing politicians and their supporters targeted abortion clinics and doctors for attack, these so-called “representatives” of the Michigan legislature are accomplishing the same goal by preventing a woman from being able to secure a safe, affordable abortion.