(Source: MIRS.news, Published 06/29/2022) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vowed to “fight like hell” to prevent the loss of reproductive rights in Michigan, but compliance concerns may stop her from packing a punch when it comes to the abortion rights ballot initiative.
Shortly after the news of Roe V. Wade’s overturn, Whitmer tweeted that “now is the time to use every tool in our toolbox to protect women and reproductive healthcare,” adding that she would “fight like hell to protect every Michigander’s right to make decisions about their own bodies.”
Now is the time to use every tool in our toolbox to protect women and reproductive healthcare.
I will fight like hell to protect every Michigander’s right to make decisions about their own bodies. pic.twitter.com/tHpwzHyg7h
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) June 24, 2022
In the days since, she has made renewed efforts to advance Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit to decide if Michigan’s state constitution protects the right to abortion, including filing a motion that urged the Michigan Supreme Court to immediately consider the suit.
She's been quoted in some media reports as supporting the Michigan Right to Reproductive Freedom ballot initiative, an attempt to get abortion rights on the November ballot. Whitmer said she signed the initiative.
But the Governor’s action has ended there, said Communications Strategist Dana CHICKLAS of the ACLU of Michigan.
Chicklas said the ACLU, an organization that helped start the ballot initiative, hasn’t received any specific support or had contact with the Governor’s office.
But they are all working towards the same goal, she added.
“In general, we're all advocating to preserve abortion, access, miscarriage care and ultimately keep birth decisions with the people who are pregnant in the state of Michigan,” Chicklas said. “So we're grateful for the Governor's lawsuit and our own lawsuit, which worked to get the preliminary injunction against the 1931 trigger law.”
Gov. Whitmer is doing everything necessary to prevent “extremists” from enacting abortion bans without exceptions for rape or incest and jailing medical staff, said Maeve COYLE, a spokesperson from Whitmer’s office. She named the five Republican gubernatorial candidates that have voiced support for an all-out abortion ban.
“Gov. Whitmer is doing everything in her power to protect abortion access for Michiganders and encouraging efforts to do the same,” Coyle said.
But MIRS has discovered a lack of signature collection efforts or other action by the Governor is a possible result of compliance concerns under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act (MCFA).
Section 57 of the MCFA states that neither public bodies nor individuals acting for them can use funds, personnel, supplies or other public resources to make a contribution or provide volunteer personal services.
While the act allows sharing of “factual information,” it draws a fine line on how public officials can share their personal views or promote campaigns.
Still, the Governor not being out-front on the constitutional amendment proposal that would put a woman's access to reproductive care into the constitution hasn't gone unnoticed among advocates MIRS has spoken with over the past week.
The Governor has access that the people don't have, and she should be doing everything in her jurisdiction to advocate for the initiative, said Zora MONICO, a leader from the Michigan Coalition for Reproductive Liberation.
“Eventually our government officials are going to have to definitively take a stand," Monico said, “And they're going to have to push their powers to the max to be able to support us.”
Monico said the Governor should consider her executive powers and ability to make emergency declarations.
“She has the best role,” Monico said. “So do something about it . . . This is an emergency case.”
Chicklas said the ACLU is confident that the proposal is going to exceed the 425,059 signature threshold before the July 11 deadline for ballot proposals.
“We’re still collecting signatures and working 24 hours until July 11 to get as many valid signatures as possible,” Chicklas said.
