Standing Together we will protect life

Right to Life of Michigan will organize a petition drive to help the people of Michigan override Granholm's veto.

In January, Right to Life of Michigan will kick-off a statewide effort to override Governor Jennifer Granholm's veto of the Legal Birth Definition Act (LBDA). In order to override the governor, Right to Life of Michigan has formed a committee called Standing Together To Oppose Partial-birth-abortion (STTOP). The effort to override the governor's veto is known collectively as The People's Override.

The LBDA was passed by a resounding number of state Senators and Representatives and would have defined legal birth and the commencement of legal rights to be when a child is in the process of being born. This legislation would have effectively prohibited partial birth abortion in the state of Michigan if Governor Granholm hadn't vetoed it.

At least 325,000 valid signatures of registered Michigan voters will be needed within 180 days from the kick-off event. After the signatures are collected and verified by the State Board of Canvassers, the Michigan Legislature has 40 days to act on the petition language. Only a simple majority vote is needed in both the House and the Senate to approve the legislation. When the petition language is approved by the legislature, it will become law and cannot be vetoed by Governor Granholm. In addition, the language will not have to appear on the ballot for a public vote.

If you would like to help gather signatures to override Governor Granholm's veto and help outlaw partial birth abortions in Michigan, you can visit Right to Life of Michigan's web site, and sign up. In January, there will be regional training meetings to train and help those interested in gathering signatures for The People's Override. Important information regarding The People's Override can be obtained from the RLM web site, www.rtl.org, or by calling the State Central Office at (616) 532-2300.

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