LANSING, Mich., Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The Michigan Legislature has approved legislation that would require women who want abortion coverage to purchase riders to their health insurance.
The law was proposed by an anti-abortion group, Michigan Right to Life, the Detroit News reported. It applies to any government-funded insurance and plans covering employees of private businesses and includes no exceptions for rape and incest, fetal abnormalities or abortions when continuing a pregnancy puts a woman's life at risk.
The Senate voted 27-11 for the bill Wednesday, with most Republicans in favor and Democrats against. A similar party-line vote in the House was 62-47.
Republican Gov. Rick Scott is expected to sign it.
No Republicans spoke in favor of the bill. Angry Democrats took the floor during debate, accusing the majority of forcing women to buy "rape insurance."
"This tells women that were raped and became pregnant that they should have thought ahead and planned for it," said Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, a Lansing-area Democrat who was sexually assaulted two decades ago. "Make no mistake, this is anything but a citizens' initiative. It's a special interest group's perverted dream come true."
