COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) - State Representative Ken Kurtz of Coldwater is speaking out about controversial abortion legislation that was debated this week in the Michigan House. The lower chamber approved measures prohibiting the act of abortion coercion and implementing safety guidelines for abortion facilities.

House Bill 5711 includes measures providing a screening service to help identify if the abortion choices of women are being forced upon them against their will or if a threat of domestic violence exists. The legislation also requires that facilities meet state and federal health standard regulations.

Kurtz chairs the House Committee on Families, Children and Seniors and said he was proud to support the bill. He said it's more than a little unsettling to imagine a woman being forced or coerced into having an abortion. According to Kurtz, every woman should have the confidence that she is receiving quality care, not just medical, but also personal. The bill also includes a mandate that fetus bodies be treated with the same respect and sanitation as required by law for disposition of other dead bodies.

Kurtz, a former funeral home owner said we live in a society where we grant dignity to the deceased. This is good public policy that shows respect for life. The bill now goes to the State Senate for consideration.  It may be a good thing that lawmakers have taken their summer break because tensions have been rising over the series of bills and legislative actions over abortion that female representatives say is part of the Republican War on Women.

It came to a boil yesterday when two female lawmakers were banned from speaking on the house floor because of their passionate opposition to the bills in committee.Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer was not happy, saying “Yesterday they took away our rights with regards to our bodies. Today, they’re taking away our colleagues right to speak, tomorrow, what’s next, taking away our right to vote?”.

When Jace Bolger’s press aide, Arin Adler accused Whitmer of having a “Temper Tantrum” she demanded that Adler be sanctioned or fired. The House approved bills now head for the Senate after the break and it’s likely the war of words will escalate.