Michigan governor expected to veto partial-birth abortion legislation

Published: 2008-05-29

LANSING, Mich. (CNS) -- An official of the Michigan Catholic Conference called on Gov. Jennifer Granholm to sign legislation banning partial-birth abortion, saying the state legislation "mirrors the constitutionally sound federal ban." Paul A. Long, vice president for public policy at the Lansing-based public policy agency for the Michigan Catholic bishops, praised the Michigan House for its 74-32 vote May 27 in favor of the legislation, which the Senate had approved by a 24-13 margin in January. The legislators who voted for the bill "deserve praise for outlawing a procedure that exemplifies just how far-reaching and out of touch the abortion issue has become," Long said in a May 27 statement. "Today's vote is a victory for those who have spent several years working to uplift the dignity of women and the human rights of the unborn by ending the atrocity known as partial-birth abortion." Granholm spokeswoman Megan Brown told Catholic News Service May 29, however, that "the governor will veto the bill when it comes to her desk."

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