Madison, WI – Today, the Wisconsin Senate passed a package of pro-life bills aimed at protecting human life and ensuring that taxpayer dollars do not subsidize abortion clinics. Senator Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) authored Senate Bill 503, which directs the state Department of Health Services to exclude abortion clinics from the state’s Medicaid program, better known as BadgerCare.
After the vote, Stroebel issued the following statement:
“Senate Bill 503 is a continuation of 2019 Assembly Bill 183 that I introduced last session to protect taxpayer dollars from funding abortion provider’s services. This bill does not reduce funding for women’s care by a single penny, it directs these funds to the dozens of other women healthcare providers that do not perform abortions. The intentional destruction of human life is wrong, and no taxpayer dollars should go to clinics that engage in this practice.
“Under state and federal law, taxpayer funds are prohibited from directly paying for abortions. The last remaining source of taxpayer dollars funds to subsidize the operations of abortion providers is through the use of the Medicaid program, which allows abortion clinics to be reimbursed for non-abortion services.
“Unfortunately, Wisconsin taxpayers gave the state’s largest abortion provider $94 million between 2011 and 2018. This bill ends that subsidy while preserving the funds for use by other women’s care providers. There are more federally qualified health centers in Wisconsin, therefore, the $94 million previously sent to these abortion clinics will be better utilized at these other providers to deliver true women’s healthcare.
Stroebel also voted in favor of legislation prohibiting abortions based on the sex or genetic condition of a child and enhancing informed consent and reporting requirements related to abortion procedures.
“These bills are an important statement about who we are as a state, what we value and what we prioritize. Standing in support of the right to life for all Wisconsinites is always the right thing to do,” Stroebel concluded.
Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) represents the 20th Senate District, which is comprised of portions of Ozaukee, Washington, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan and Calumet counties.
