LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Joseph Bellino, R-Monroe, issued the following statement after he opposed Democrat-sponsored bills to remove certain health and information regulations regarding abortion clinics in Michigan:
“This bill package has been labeled as the Reproductive Health Act. That seems harmless, but it’s completely, 100% disingenuous. This health act puts the actual health of women across this state at serious risk.
“Licensing requirements do not hinder abortion access; they merely act as a guardrail to help protect women who choose this path. We know this because the number of abortions in Michigan has increased every year for the past seven years while these commonsense laws were in place.
“Yet this so-called Reproductive Health Act would exempt abortion providers from laws requiring state licensing and inspections that ensure abortion facilities meet basic public health and safety standards — which are supported by 97% of those who voted for Proposal 3.
“These bills put women in danger from bad actors who might wish to cash in on this newly unregulated industry.
“This isn’t necessary. This isn’t wise. This isn’t wanted. And it’s dangerous.”
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