Last week, the Michigan Senate issued a revision to the health insurance plan it offers its employees. The change, pushed through by Republican Senator Rick Jones, told our employees - or should I say our FEMALE employees - that abortion care would no longer be provided to them under any circumstance. No exceptions to the rule. No explanations provided.
Yet while the Republicans feel it appropriate to take away reproductive care from our female employees and our daughters, they saw no reason to eliminate their Viagra from the Senate insurance plan at the same time.
It's hypocrisy at its worst, but more importantly, it continues to show how tone deaf Michigan Republicans are when it comes to women's issues.
Let's be clear - no woman ever wants to be in a position where an abortion is necessary, but there are very real circumstances that women face where they become necessary. What if - god forbid - one of our female employees here in the Senate, or even a family member were to be raped? And what if they were to become pregnant from that? Republicans have sent them a message through this action that satisfying their own political egos is more important than ensuring that woman has access to every available healthcare option in her darkest moment.
I spoke out against this action on the floor of the Michigan Senate today and I hope you'll take a look and share it with others so they can see the war on women in Michigan is alive and well!
Gretchen Whitmer
Michigan Senate Democratic Leader