Planned Parenthood Asks Governor-elect Snyder to Stand Up for Michigan Women and Families!

When Governor-elect Rick Snyder becomes Governor Rick Snyder in January, he'll be tasked with herding a state Legislature that is much more conservative than he professed to be on issues of choice and family planning.

Gongwer, a Capitol newsletter, recently reported that the extreme anti-choice group Michigan Right to Life has "pent-up demand" to move its agenda, according to the group's lobbyist, Ed Rivet. And with over 70 percent of the incoming state lawmakers either endorsed by Michigan Right to Life or known to hold anti-choice views, the potential assault on women's rights and family planning is staggering.

As the calendar rolls another year over, Michigan voters will wake up to a government unlike any we've ever experienced. State government will now be in the hands of conservative Republicans, a majority of whom are animated by ideological rather than pragmatic or common sense concerns.

As governor, Rick Snyder must chart a political path that stays focused on his campaign promise to priortize jobs, the economy, and fiscal issue – and not allow state government to be distracted by a narrow social agenda that would divide the public and undermine his other campaign promise to pursue a bipartisanship. 

Michigan families face a number of potential attacks on sexual health services, including common-sense prevention measures. Sadly, the only losers in such a political climate are the thousands of Michigan women and families who rely on the family planning services often targeted by activists.

Which is why it is so important for Rick Snyder to stay true to his campaign promises and be a reasoned, strong centrist who will not allow social activism to take precedence over what's really important for Michiganders right now – jobs.

As Snyder takes office, we hope he'll stay focused on what will contribute most rapidly to Michigan's great recovery: jobs.

For our part, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan will continue to care and fight for the women, men and teens who rely on us. We will continue to seek out and implement cost-effective, common sense solutions that reduce abortions by preventing them.

We will continue to go to bat for policies that make for healthier women and families in Michigan, such as comprehensive and age-appropriate sex education.

And we'll continue to work to move Michigan forward by making sure Michigan's families have access to the tools and services they need to effectively plan their families and be healthy.

It's imperative that Rick Snyder reject the Right to Life agenda and stick to his centrist positions on social issues. In a time of record unemployment and slow recovery exacerbated by a widening budget deficit, Michigan cannot afford to waste precious time passing laws that will only serve to harm more Michiganders. Instead, when Rick Snyder takes office in a few short months, he should steer clear of the divisive anti-choice, anti-family agenda, and stick to the business of getting Michigan back on course.