In a shocking turn of events, this one Democrat is set to turn the entire party’s agenda upside down. Democratic state representative Karen Whitsett of Michigan recently announced that she would not be voting in favor of Democrat governor Gretchen Whitmer’s abortion bill package. This package would dramatically reduce the restrictions on the procedure.
Her announcement has caused quite a stir among reproductive rights activists who had been hoping for greater access to abortions, particularly with Medicaid funding.
Governor Whitmer proposed several bills that included eliminating the mandatory 24-hour waiting period before an abortion and allowing for Medicaid funding of abortion procedures.
However, Representative Whitsett publicly declared her opposition to these measures due to her concerns about using taxpayer money for such services and the need for women to take time to consider their decisions carefully.
Whitsett’s stance was met with criticism from Planned Parenthood’s chapter in Michigan, claiming that it was a “betrayal” to her constituents who elected her into office.
The representative responded by saying that she is simply doing what is best for them and that 24 hours is not too much time when someone’s life is at stake.
Nevertheless, without Whitsett’s vote the bills are unlikely to pass unless they receive support from the Republican Party – something which does not appear likely given their stance on reproductive rights in recent years.
An analysis showed that if passed, Medicaid costs associated with providing abortions could increase anywhere between $2 million and $6 million in Michigan alone – certainly no small amount of money.
This fact raises even further questions about how feasible these proposals truly are considering the current economic climate around the nation.
While abortion proponents may have felt hopeful after learning of Governor Whitmer’s plans earlier this summer, Representative Karen Whitsettt’s refusal to approve them has put those hopes on hold – at least temporarily – as it appears unlikely they will come into fruition without gaining support from across both parties in Congress.
