Assembly Republicans are requesting Gov. Tony Evers provide $10 million in federal funds for pregnancy resource centers aiming to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
The call comes as Planned Parenthood has stopped performing abortions in Wisconsin since a U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. The state has a 173-year-old law outlawing abortion in most cases.
Kaul on Tuesday filed a lawsuit arguing abortion is still legal because other legislation supersedes the 1849 law. He said it also conflicts with several other laws on how physicians can lawfully perform abortions.
In a letter yesterday, 38 Republicans — including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke — called for finding common ground.
“As people who are proudly pro-life, we do not condone the killing of innocent babies. Nearly half of Wisconsin citizens also have this belief, but being pro-life is more than just being against abortion; it also means providing the necessary resources, guidance, and support for expectant mothers,” they write.
According to the most recent Marquette University Law Poll, 58 percent of Wisconsinites believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 35 percent say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases.
Republicans in the letter say they know the best way to prevent abortions is by taking precautions, including contraceptives.
“Governor Evers, you have campaigned on bringing people together and said there is too much division in politics,” they wrote. “While we do not agree on easy access to abortion, we should be able to agree on finding ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies.”
A spokeswoman for Evers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
See the letter here.
