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Capitol

Taking Back

The

A banner from the
Lansing protest

Rally in Lansing protests lawmaker's
censure for saying "vagina."

Esther Aliweiss Ingber I Contributing Writer

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

gathering to express its collective anger
at Republican leadership in the Michigan
House. Leaders prevented two demo-
cratically elected female legislators from
speaking in a legislative debate about
women's reproductive rights.
On June 13, Rep. Lisa Brown (D-West
Bloomfield) and colleague Rep. Barb
Byrum (D-Onondaga) spoke out forth-
rightly during an emotional hearing on
an abortion bill. The following morning,
Brown said she was "shocked" to learn
that House Floor Leader Jim Stamas
(R-Midland) and Speaker of the House
Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) had instituted a
one-day speaking ban on them.
The House had been debating HR 5711,
the so-called "Anti-Abortion Super-Bill"
introduced by Rep. Bruce Renden (R-Lake
City). The bill addresses the disposal of
fetal remains, coercive abortion screening,
physician liability, and new regulations
and an insurance requirement for abor-
tion providers.
"We have freedom of religion in this

country, but some laws infringe our
beliefs;' said Brown, 45, one of four Jewish
members in the State House. She opposed
the bill for forcing contradictory religious
beliefs upon her and others.
Getting her views accepted on social
issues has been challenging. During three-
and-a-half years in office, Brown said she's
explained Jewish traditions to colleagues
who don't have Jewish constituents.
"I was the first Jewish girl in my soror-
ity at Michigan State, so I've always felt I
had to be a good example about Jews," she
said.
In her floor speech on that fateful day,
Brown read from To Be a Jew, a book by
Rabbi Hayim HaLevy Donin.
"I was educating my colleagues on
Judaism's stance on abortion, that it is
mandatory that you would terminate
a pregnancy [if the mother might die]
because the life of the mother comes
before the fetus?'
Brown argued against the bill's require-
ment that doctors must ensure women
aren't coerced into ending their pregnan-
cies, holding the opinion that the men

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were
getting too intru-
sive. Using a medically correct
term in a statement that nevertheless
went viral, Brown said, "I'm flattered that
you're all so interested in my vagina, but
no means no."
Byrum's offense was purportedly for
saying the word "vasectomy" on the
House floor. Ari Adler, spokesperson
for Speaker Bolger, reportedly said GOP
leaders wouldn't let the Democratic
representatives speak the following day
because "they violated the decorum of
the House?'
The bill passed, 70-39, in the
Republican-dominated House; the Senate
will consider it next.

'War On Women'
Speaking to the Jewish News on June 20,
Brown said, "We were never told why we
were banned:' although her seatmate in
Congress, Rep. Joan Bauer (D-Lansing),
suggested "maybe it's because of your
Jewish faith?'
One follower of state government theo-

orto

rized
that Brown
saying the word "vagina" in
that context was a "hands-off moment
for all those men. Being a woman gave
her a power they could not match."
Brown conceded that when she uttered
the word, "There was no reaction; no
jaws dropped?'
After consulting about what happened,
the GOP leaders issued the ban. The the-
orist said, "It was a calculated response to
her very effective power move?'
A Republican House staffer said the
word "vagina" was not the issue. Speaker
Bolger mentioned to him that Brown's
"saying `no means no meant to the
House leadership that she was equating
the legislation to rape?'
For Brown, the incident has reinforced
her feeling that a "war on women" is
being waged by Republicans. Otherwise,

Taking Back on page 14

Local Jewish Republicans Weigh In On Brown's Censure

ep. Marty Knollenberg (R Troy).
Knollenberg is the incumbent
state representative in the 41st
House District, which includes Troy
and Clawson. He is seeking the office
of Oakland County
treasurer.
"I think the situa-
tion could have been
handled differently
by everyone involved.
I don't believe that
prohibiting speech
is ever a good thing.
Marty
And
having open
Knollenberg
and honest debate is

R

12

June 28 2012

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what our country is all about."
Would he say the V word? "The
best way I can say it is that it's not
my style. It's not the kind of lan-
guage I'd use."
Brad Hantler of West Bloomfield.
Hantler is a
Republican candi-
date for state rep-
resentative in the
39th House District,
which includes
Commerce Township,
West Bloomfield and
Wolverine Lake.
Brad Hantler
"I understand her

gib

position [on the House bill], but I
don't think acting childish gets any-
thing done. There's a mature way to
act, and I don't think that's the way
she acted. I think it was a poor use
of her time and her position [to par-
ticipate in the rally]."
Bubba Urdan of
West Bloomfield.
Urdan is a
Republican candidate
for state represen-
tative in the 39th
House District, which
includes Commerce
Bubba Urdan
Township, West

Bloomfield and Wolverine Lake.
"They said she was 'censured,' but
she was censored. I'm very upset
they censored Lisa Brown — she
didn't do anything wrong. State reps
are supposed to debate the issues. If
Lisa gets censored, she can't repre-
sent her constituents. If I'm elected,
I'm going to represent Democrats
and Independents too. You're rep-
resenting all the people in your dis-
trict."
Would he say the V word? "Would
I? If it had to do with legislation." ❑

