LANSING — Organizations like Planned Parenthood wouldn’t be able to contract with the state of Michigan under a $37.86 billion budget passed by the House of Representatives Tuesday.
Representatives passed the general government budget by a vote of 59-51, with Republican Reps. Todd Courser, Cindy Gamrat, Martin Howrylak and Joel Johnson joining Democrats in voting against the budget. The budget includes about $8 billion from the state’s general fund.
The Michigan Senate is still working on its own budget; eventually members of both chambers will meet to form a single proposal to send to Gov. Rick Snyder.
Amendment WW adopted Tuesday would amend state law to keep the state from contracting “with an organization which provides elective abortions, abortion counseling or abortion referrals.” The amendment also bans organizations under contract with the state from contracting with the same types of organizations.
House Democrats said the amendment means any organization providing those services will not be able to receive any state funding, should the budget become law.
“It’s extremely disappointing that the Republican caucus would use women’s health as a bargaining chip,” said Rep. Kristy Pagan, D-Canton. “… I think it’s completely unacceptable just to get Republican caucus support to pass this omnibus budget bill.”
Speaker Kevin Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant, said multiple members of the House Republican caucus expressed concern about state dollars going to support Planned Parenthood.
