right to life http://michiganradio.org en Petition drive will seek to ban automatic abortion coverage in Michigan http://michiganradio.org/post/petition-drive-will-seek-ban-automatic-abortion-coverage-michigan <p>A state elections board has given the go-ahead to a petition drive that would enact a restriction on abortions.</p><p>The initiative would ban abortion coverage as a part of basic insurance policies.</p><p>Instead, customers and businesses that offer employee coverage would have to buy a separate rider for insurance coverage.</p><p>The effort seeks to enact a requirement that was vetoed by Governor Rick Snyder.</p><p>If the drive succeeds, the Legislature could adopt the law without the threat of a veto.</p> Wed, 22 May 2013 15:48:40 +0000 Rick Pluta and Mark Brush 12684 at http://michiganradio.org Petition drive will seek to ban automatic abortion coverage in Michigan How about this license plate: RU Nuts? http://michiganradio.org/post/how-about-license-plate-ru-nuts <p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" id="role_document" size="2"><font size="4"><font size="4"><font size="4"><font size="4">We&rsquo;ve got a few serious problems in this state, from the fact that we lost almost a million jobs in the past decade to the inconvenient truth that higher education has become both essential for all and highly unaffordable for a large percentage of us.</font></font></font></font></font></p> Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:11:08 +0000 Jack Lessenberry 6018 at http://michiganradio.org How about this license plate: RU Nuts? Michigan Senate Committee to review 'Choose Life' specialty plate legislation http://michiganradio.org/post/michigan-senate-committee-review-choose-life-specialty-plate-legislation <p>The <a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28nxzhak55r5mjt2ah4mnp3m55%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=CommitteeBillRecordSearch&amp;mySession=2011-2012&amp;CommitteeName=TRANSPORTATION&amp;chamber=senate">Michigan Senate Transportation Committee</a> is <a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28nxzhak55r5mjt2ah4mnp3m55%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=CommitteeMeeting&amp;CommitteeName=Transportation&amp;chamber=Senate">scheduled to review a bill today</a> that would <a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28nxzhak55r5mjt2ah4mnp3m55%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&amp;objectname=2011-SB-0600">create a specialty license plate</a> to raise money for the <a href="http://www.rtl.org/">Right to Life of Michigan Fund</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.rtl.org/legislation/PendingLegislation/chooselife_licenseplate.html">According to Right to Life of Michigan</a>, drivers would be able to purchase the specialty plates to support the pro-life cause.</p><p>Lawmakers have previously tried to bring up similar legislation, but it has failed. According to <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/choose_life_specialty_license.html">mlive.com</a>:</p><blockquote><p>About half the U.S. has &quot;Right to Life&quot; specialty plates, but their roll-out has been contentious. Groups in several states have mounted legal challenges on First Amendment grounds, some successfully, some not. The Supreme Court <a href="http://www.lifenews.com/2009/10/05/state-4476/">has let stand</a> state rulings barring production of the plates.</p><p>Most recently, in November, a North Carolina judge <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/n-c-court-blocks-choose-life-license-plates-63271/">blocked production of the plates</a> until a legal battle was resolved. The American Civil Liberties Union argued production of the plates constituted &quot;viewpoint discrimination&quot; because there was no corresponding pro-choice alternative.</p></blockquote><p>Michigan State Senator <a href="http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/senators/Colbeck.asp?District=7">Patrick Colbeck</a> introduced the legislation, also known as <a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billintroduced/Senate/htm/2011-SIB-0600.htm">Senate Bill No. 600</a>. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:14:53 +0000 Zoe Clark 5813 at http://michiganradio.org Michigan Senate Committee to review 'Choose Life' specialty plate legislation