BTL STAFF
LANSING – Shortly before she was expelled from the state House, Cindy Gamrat, former representative from Plainwell, introduced bills to add restrictions on abortions and add protections for religious leaders who refuse to marry same-sex couples.
House Bills 4851 and 4852 were both introduced by Gamrat on Sept. 9 with Reps. Jim Runestad, Ed McBroom and Aaron Miller as cosigners. HB 4851 would ban abortions after 20 weeks except to save the mother's life, and HB 4858 would add protections for religious leaders who refuse to perform marriages that violate their beliefs.
Despite having been removed from office, Gideon D'Assandro, spokesperson for state House Speaker Kevin Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant, told Michigan Public Radio that nothing will change with the bills and believes lawmakers will judge the bills based on their merit, despite Gamrat's performance while employed by the state.
Gamrat's name will remain on the bills as the lead sponsor. Both bills have been referred to the House Criminal Justice Committee.
