LANSING — While the state is coming down from its second temporary shut down in two years, ever increasing unemployment and unresolved budget issues, Michigan House Republicans this week introduced legislation to amend the state constitution to define life as beginning at fertilization. The resolution to amend the constitution was introduced by Democratic Rep. Jim Slezak of Davison and Republican Rep. Paul Scott of Grand Blanc. There were a total of 23 co-sponsors for the bill.
That bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee which is controlled by East Lansing Democrat Mark Meadows, a staunch supporter of abortion rights. So it’s unlikely it will be rushed onto any legislative agendas or to the floor of the Democratic-controlled House.
In order for the state constitution to be amended, lawmakers must approve a ballot measure or voters must circulate a petition to gather enough signatures to put it on the ballot.
Scott has recently been urged by a faction of GOP activists to run for secretary of state.
The life begins at fertilization amendment would certainly play well to the right to life crowd, a core constituency in the Michigan GOP.
The so-called egg-as-person movement has been making appearances across the country. Last Nov. Colorado voters soundly defeated an amendment to its constitution. But as Ernest Luning over at Michigan Messenger’s sibling site in Colorado reported last November, that defeat, at 3-to-1 margin, was not a bad thing to organizers. They announced they would seek similar amendments in other states.