I just hung up the phone with one of Governor Snyder’s aides. My heart is pounding. No matter how many times I have called my representatives-my hands shake.
It isn’t easy to be one of the thousands of constituents our Republican driven legislature in Lansing fail to represent. It is a scary ride.
The phone was ringing.
In the moment before I heard the aide’s voice pause, clear their throat, and cheerily say, “Governor Snyder’s office,” I could hear happy chatter in the background.
It was December 20th at 4:45 pm. People were laughing nonchalantly, I imagined starchy suits—exchanging gifts, perhaps they got a little a wild with an outrageous holiday neck tie. I could almost smell the generic store bought Christmas cookies.
I introduced myself, and the aide was quite nice. They asked my name, how to spell it, and where I live. I asked if Governor Snyder had made his decision yet on HB 5711. They confirmed that he had not yet decided whether or not to veto this bill, was there a message I would like to leave?
Yes, there was.
My hands were shaking, my eyes were watering, and my throat felt tight. I was about to leave a message for the Governor. This is the man who is about to make a very big decision for Michigan, a decision that will effect the rights of every woman in this state to have access to safe reproductive health care.
I took a deep breath and quietly told a complete stranger that my great grandmother died of an illegal abortion. My voice cracked.
The aide was quiet.
What I could never explain to that person, or Governor Snyder, or every other Republican out there, was that raw wounds still exist in my grandmother, from losing her mother, death by illegal abortion. 80 some years of missing her mother.
When my grandfather died, my grandmother looked at me and said, “I know how to be strong, I know this pain well.” How could I ever explain the feeling that I had in that moment with her?
I told the aide, this a broken piece of my grandmothers heart—this truth has affected every generation since her mothers death, including mine. Because my great grandmother didn’t have legal access to an abortion she died. It wasn’t so long ago.
I explained that it is for her that I am asking Governor Snyder to veto House Bill 5711, because I will remember.
The aide thanked me, told me they were sorry that happened, and wished me a happy holiday.
I have no way of knowing if my message will ever get through to the Governor.
Still…I try, and I hope.
Later, Thursday Evening
What I overheard and mistakenly thought was a Christmas party was actually much more likely the Republican’s celebration dotting their i’s and crossing their t’s after their assaultive lame duck session- our Governor was not sitting at his desk quietly contemplating the ethics behind the HB 5711 mega bill, he was instead joyfully signing House Bills 6060 and 6063.
Tonight the Governor signed two bills that make it nearly impossible for us to recall a state senator or representative.
Tonight, Michigan mourns. We have been robbed.
