Showdown Slated
Partial birth ban will go to governor's desk

Calls, faxed letters and on-line messages are needed for Governor Jennifer Granholm. Michigan's governor must know, without a doubt, that the people have spoken, and spoken clearly, on the issue of partial birth abortion. Michiganders want the Legal Birth Definition Act signed into law. A partially born child must be legally protected.

The final vote to send the bill to the governor is being delayed until the first week of June. After the vote in Michigan's Senate, the bill will go to Governor Granholm's desk.

In a matter of three weeks both the Michigan House and Senate passed the Legal Birth Definition Act through the legislative process. First, the Senate acted on S.B. 395, sponsored by Sen. Michelle McManus, sending it to the House on May 1, with a 24-12 vote. The following week the House moved H.B. 4603, sponsored by Rep. David Robertson, with a final tally of 74-29.

Because only one version of the bill can be sent to the governor, the House on May 14 voted again, this time passing S.B. 395 by a 74-28 tally.

The vote tallies are crucial in that the House passed the bills with a sufficient number to override a threatened veto by Gov. Granholm. In the Senate, 26 votes are needed. Because the House made some changes to both versions of the bill, the Senate will have to complete action on one of them by voting to accept the House amendments.

The LBDA is a straight-forward effort to create a boundary for abortion by declaring birth, and the commencing of legal rights, to be at the point where any portion of a child is vaginally delivered outside the mother's body. Clearly the "right to abortion" defined by the Supreme Court never imagined abortion to include the live birth and subsequent killing of the child.

The LBDA will redefine legal birth so that a child has the protections of legal personhood once any part of that child is visible outside of the mother's body. The bill does not restrict a specific abortion procedure, but will effectively prohibit partial birth abortion.

Prolife people need to generate as many calls, e-mails and letters to Governor Jennifer Granholm as possible asking her to sign or allow the Legal Birth Definition Act to become law. Here are several ways to contact the governor:

• Leave a voice message at: 517-335-7858
• Send a Fax to: 517-241-1707
• Online go to www.michigan.gov/gov - Click on "Constituent Services" then "Online Forms & Feedback"

Send a message loud and clear to Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

"Please sign the Legal Birth Definition Act. A partially born child must be legally protected."