Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said if voters protect abortion rights, it will help Michigan recruit people and businesses from neighboring abortion-banning states.
“If and when we lock reproductive rights into law, it will be an additional tool for us to go to Indiana and Ohio and eat their lunch,” the Democratic governor told Crain’s in a wide-ranging interview, referring to Proposition 3, a constitution amendment to the November ballot. “I want to recruit talent. I want to recruit companies that say they will no longer invest resources in these states because they have significantly reduced the ability of women to make their own decisions about their bodies and their health. I think that could be a great strength for us.”
After Indiana in August became the first state to enact tougher abortion restrictions since the US Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade case, drug company Eli Lilly, based in Indianapolis said it would be forced to plan for more job growth outside of Indiana. Enforcement is suspended due to a legal challenge.
Michigan has had a near-total abortion ban on the books for 176 years, but it’s not enforced after Roe’s overturned due to injunctions issued this year by two different state judges. Ohio bans abortion after 20 weeks, and a tougher law banning virtually all abortions is temporarily stalled as a lawsuit progresses through the courts.
When Whitmer, who is up for re-election, made similar comments at a Detroit Economic Club candidates’ forum, Republican strategist and Prop 3 opponent Fred Wszolek tweeted, “Aborting babies is not a economic development strategy. It’s just depraved.”
Whitmer touched on a variety of topics in Crain’s interview, including his view that pending jumps in minimum wage and paid sick leave are unlikely to be sustainable for businesses. She also defended incentives for Chinese battery component maker Gotion Inc., which were criticized by Republican Tudor Dixon.