Michigan Senate Cleared Abortion Coercion Bill

The Michigan Senate has approved legislation in a 26-11 vote Thursday, to make it illegal to coerce a woman into having an abortion.

The bill makes it a crime to stalk or assault a woman or anyone else with the intention of causing an abortion against the woman's wishes.  If the woman states she does not want an abortion, it will also be illegal to cut off necessary financial support.  A person can not withdraw from a contract with a woman who will not get an abortion.

The legislation is now heading from the Republican-led Senate to the GOP-controlled House.

In 2012 a law was passed to require abortion clinics to screen for patients who have been coerced.  At the time that legislation was passed lawmakers could not agree to make it a crime to coerce.