A Welcome Surprise from Governor Jean Granholm

Via Amy Welborn, Family News in Focus reports:

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm has signed into law a bill designed to show college students there are alternatives to abortion.

With the Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act becoming law, two pro-life groups -- Right to Life of Michigan and Feminists for Life -- have seen some of the fruits of their labors. For nearly five years a project has been under way to create an on-campus resource center for college women who become pregnant, according to Ed Rivet, spokesman for Right to Life of Michigan.

The Associated Press (via MLive.com) reports:

The new law sets up the Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Fund to pay for grants for universities that set up offices where pregnant women or students with children can get referrals for prenatal care, foster care, adoption and other services.

The offices won't be able to give referrals for abortions.

The new fund will consist of state money, if allocated, and private donations.

Such a deliberately pro-life oriented gesture is surprising as well, given the fact that Granholm has in the past identified herself as a "100% pro-choice" Catholic, adopting the morally incoherent position of Senator Kerry, Kennedy, et al. (see "Granholm's abortion stance is off base", by Mark S. Latkovic, Janet Smith and Richard Myers. Detroit Free Press Oct. 17, 2002).

Granholm had vetoed previous attempts by the Michigan legislature to limit partial birth abortion and was the recipient of Catholic protests of her position during the 2002 gubernatorial race.

In light of Granholm's past and vigorous defense of abortion rights, it is indeed doubtful that the present legislative gesture represents a "change of mind" on her part. Nevertheless I concur with Amy Welborn that "grudging kudos" are in order.

More Information:

• StopGranholm.Com a website "developed by a group of concerned Michigan citizens known as the Church & Truth Project to expose the scandalous '100 percent pro-choice' positions of Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who claims to be a practicing Catholic."
  
• (GranholmGarble.Com, a website by the Michigan Right to Life protesting Granholm's views on partial birth abortion.