Representative LaFontaine explains importance of opting out of abortion coverage

Rep. LaFontaine (Mich. Leg.)

In the Detroit News, State Representative Andrea LaFontaine has an editorial discussing Right to Life of Michigan's and the state legislature's efforts to prevent elective abortion coverage from being allowed in insurance plans subsidized by tax dollars.  More than 315,000 signatures of registered Michigan voters were recently submitted to the Michigan Board of Canvassers to allow the state legislature another chance to pass this important legislation. 

Despite the valiant attempts by Republican lawmakers to stop its implementation, including challenges at the United States Supreme Court, the Affordable Care Act is now the law of the land. In preparation for the Affordable Care Act invading our personal lives and our wallets, last year the state Legislature approved a bill that would disallow health insurance companies that participate in the taxpayer funded exchange from offering elective abortion coverage as part of their subsidized plans.

Unfortunately, Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed the bill that contained this language. To remedy this, a citizen-led initiative began and more than 315,000 Michiganians from all 83 of our counties signed a petition in support of the abortion insurance opt-out, giving the Legislature another opportunity to ensure taxpayers are not on the hook for elective abortions.

More than half of the other states in the U.S. have already either restricted abortion coverage in the plans that will be offered through the exchange or removed standard abortion coverage from private insurance plans. Hard-working taxpayers are sending a strong message to their legislators that while they may be unable to resist paying for Affordable Care Act in its entirety, they absolutely will not fund the portion that subsidizes health plans that provide elective abortion coverage.

FULL EDITORIAL 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION AT MICHIGAN'S VOICE