LANSING, Mich., June 7, 2022 — Last night, legislative Republicans filed a motion seeking to allow the Legislature to intervene as defendants in a lawsuit challenging Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban. Members of the House Democratic Caucus issued the following statements in response:
“Without a vote and in the dark of night, Republicans have taken it upon themselves to pretend to speak for this whole Legislature,” said House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski (D-Scio Township). “We filed an amicus brief in May as the House Democratic Caucus to let the court know exactly where we stand, alongside our governor, in defense of a Michigander’s right to the full spectrum of reproductive health.”
“We know where Michiganders stand on this issue, and it is certainly not in line with defending one of the most extreme anti-choice laws in the nation — a 90-year-old law banning nearly all abortions,” said state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia), chair of the Progressive Women’s Caucus. “Last night’s maneuver to step in as a defendant in this case is just another step by Michigan Republicans in their march to the extreme right-wing fringe of beliefs in this country that is vastly out-of-step with the values of Michiganders. The Legislature as a whole certainly doesn’t stand in defense of this law or for the trampling of health care rights for millions of Michiganders, even if our misguided Republican leadership pretends to in court.”