On Thursday, the Wisconsin State Assembly passed Assembly Bill 975 on a 53-46 vote, thereby authorising abortion up to 14 weeks’ gestation and expediting the legislation’s placement on the ballot in April 2024.
The Heal Without Harm (HWH) Coalition vehemently denounces the enactment of AB 975, which seeks to introduce an abortion referendum at a time when the current state statute is still being litigated. The HWH Coalition will continue to defend Wisconsin State Statute 940.04, a law that protects life from conception and which has saved over 1,500 lives since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. It is therefore our recommendation that the legislature address section 940.04 in the wake of the legal challenges.
The HWH Coalition extends its gratitude to the 11 pro-life Republican State Representatives who exercised their right to vote against AB 975 and thereby upheld the constitutionality of s.940.04. As this legislation progresses to the Wisconsin State Senate, the HWH Coalition respectfully requests that all State Senators oppose AB 975.
The issue of abortion cannot be resolved in the course of a single legislative session. The issue of abortion will continue to be a topic of discussion within our culture until there is a shift in attitudes and beliefs that favour the value of life.
It is our recommendation that the Wisconsin State Assembly prioritize initiatives that illustrate the multifaceted nature of pro-life advocacy, extending beyond opposition to abortion. It is recommended that the Wisconsin State Assembly pass the following bills: AB 114, which extends postpartum care to a year after birth; AB 343, which increases the tax exemption for dependents and includes preborn children; AB 344, which provides funding for pregnancy resource centres; and AB 336, which creates grants to support adoption. All four bills have already been passed by the State Senate.
The Heal Without Harm Coalition will persist in its efforts to address the practical challenges faced by those who become pregnant. We will continue to disseminate information to the people of Wisconsin about the lifesaving alternatives to abortion, and we urge the legislature to collaborate with us in achieving these objectives.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
