Sen. Kathy Bernier, R-Chippewa Falls, at a WisPolitics.com luncheon said the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision “may motivate some” voters in upcoming elections, but added she believes most people who support abortions rights vote for Democrats anyway.
The Senate Elections Committee chair at yesterday’s event on issues for women voters said she believes the Supreme Court made the right decision by turning the decision over to the states. She added Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban — which only includes an exception for the life of the mother — “probably needs some updating.”
Bernier later spoke to cases of rape and incest.
“I would be hard-pressed to expect a 11-year-old child who was raped by her cousin, or brother or father — or anyone raped — to carry a child knowing that that was conceived out of trauma,” she said.
Dem State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, who highlighted abortion rights during her U.S. Senate campaign, suggested the loss of abortion rights could lead to further rights being lost and that will motivate people to get to the polls.
“If we’re allowing politicians to legislate health care decisions instead of medical professionals, what else is next? And so that’s why I do think this election is very different because we are taking away rights from a population,” Godlewski said.
She added abortion is an issue for the entire community — not just women.
Adriana Ramirez, a legal assistant from Milwaukee, said there isn’t enough representation for women on the ballot, but the representation that does exist is exciting.
“Hopefully that just means more and more women will be on [the ballot],” Ramirez said, noting women who run for political office are often highly scrutinized on a personal level.
Retiree Peggy Theil, who is a commissioner and treasurer for the Mt. Morris Lakes Management District, spoke to rising partisanship, saying she sees extremism on both sides of the political aisle.
“I’m finding it very hard to like either side,” Theil said. “And I would sure like to see both sides start condemning some of the extremism.”
Watch today’s event:
https://wiseye.org/2022/10/12/campaign-2022-wispolitics-com-top-election-issues-for-women/
