Anti-abortion petition drive supported by GOP committee

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Organizers of an anti-abortion petition drive say they have received a boost from a resolution recently adopted by the Michigan Republican Party.

Michigan Citizens for Life is campaigning to define a person as existing from the moment of conception in the state constitution. The group wants to spark a challenge to the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

Campaign organizers must submit at least 317,757 valid signatures of Michigan voters to state election officials by early July to qualify for the November ballot.

The resolution read: "In conjunction with the Republican National Committee Platform passed in 2004, the Michigan Republican Party expresses support for the concept that life begins at conception and we encourage our members to consider supporting the Michigan Citizens for Life petition initiative."

Citizens for Life leader Cal Zastrow said Wednesday the resolution has been positive for his campaign.

"It has tremendous impact," Zastrow said. "The Republican Party is staying true to its platform."

The Michigan Democratic Party criticized the GOP resolution and the ballot drive, saying it could label as criminals women who have abortions even in cases of rape or to protect their own lives. Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer said the support for the initiative moves the state Republican Party "even farther out of the Michigan mainstream."

There has been a difference of opinion among Republican candidates on the proposal, notably in the U.S. Senate race, where three GOP candidates are vying to face incumbent Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow in November.

Jerry Zandstra, a Cutlerville minister, is campaigning in part on his support for the Citizens for Life proposal. Keith Butler, a Troy minister, has signed the group's petition. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard has not signed the petition.

Bouchard is deferring to Right to Life of Michigan on the issue. The state's best known anti-abortion group says the proposal is technically flawed and not needed because the state already has a law on the books that could ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

The American Civil Liberties Union has said it would file a lawsuit to block the Citizens for Life proposal if it makes the ballot and voters approve it.