Sen. Testin and Rep. Dittrich Author Bill to Protect Vulnerable Populations
Madison, WI – Abortion is a divisive issue, but two legislators are looking to find common ground on ending discriminatory abortions. LRB-2280, authored by Sen. Patrick Testin (Stevens Point) and Rep. Barbara Dittrich (Oconomowoc),would prevent abortions from being performed solely because of the race, color, national origin, ancestry, or sex of the unborn child or solely because the unborn child has been diagnosed with or has a potential diagnosis of Down syndrome or another congenital disability.
“This legislation is an essential step to solidify in statute that all unborn lives are to be treated equally,” said Sen. Testin. “Deciding who is deserving of being brought into the world based on their inherited characteristics is pure discrimination to say the least.”
Rep. Dittrich, the founder of a non-profit for parents of children with special needs, says this bill is needed to protect the most vulnerable.
“We can’t be advocates for the disabled and at the same time say that their lives are worth targeting and terminating. I’ve spent most of my adult life supporting this community, and this bill is a natural extension of that.”
The legislation began circulating for co-sponsorship on Wednesday. It is likely to be officially introduced next week.
