The Legislature has sent Governor Rick Snyder the new state budget, which he is expected to sign.
The budget attempts to cut funding to Planned Parenthood.
A provision in the budget would require county health departments to favor family planning clinics that don’t also abortions. State law already forbids the direct use of public money funds for abortions.
But the Legislature’s gesture may be symbolic, says Governor Snyder’s press secretary, Anna Heaton.
“We’re concerned that portions of the boilerplate language are unconstitutional.”
A different state law already governs how family planning money is distributed. The provision cannot be line-item vetoed, but the governor could issue a signing statement that says it’s not enforceable.