In a news conference on Thursday morning, just days before the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, Attorney General Josh Kaul, and several pro-choice legislators pushed legislation that would repeal Wisconsin’s 172-year-old abortion ban.
On the importance of protecting abortion access, Evers stated, “Wisconsin has a pre-Roe criminal abortion ban on the books that means if Roe v. Wade is overturned, our state could turn back the clock on reproductive health care access by 50 years. We cannot go back to the days of criminalizing doctors for providing care to patients, or denying access to abortion and reproductive health decisions a person makes based on their own circumstances, their health and their personal values.”
A press release from Governor Evers, also released on Thursday, stated, “SB 75 would repeal Wisconsin’s 172-year-old criminal abortion ban, which is currently unenforceable due to the Roe decision. Given the Supreme Court’s anticipated ruling this year, reproductive healthcare access in Wisconsin is under its most dire attack in nearly half a century.” Attorney General Kaul elaborated in the same press release, “Reproductive freedom is in greater jeopardy than at any time since Roe v. Wade was decided nearly 50 years ago. With the real possibility that Roe could be overruled this year, now is the time to pass the Abortion Rights Preservation Act.”
Wisconsin Right to Life legislative director Gracie Skogman said, “Abortion is violence against women and their preborn children, and leaves women without real options and support. The heart of the pro-life movement is to uplift and encourage these women, and we look forward to a day when abortion is no longer protected in Wisconsin.” Skogman continued, “Wisconsin Right to Life and the pro-life movement in Wisconsin are willing and ready to defend all life after Roe is overturned.”
Heather Weininger, Wisconsin Right to Life executive director added, “Wisconsinites have an opportunity in 2022 to elect a governor and attorney general who are willing to protect the preborn. We must do everything we can to show Wisconsin voters that this election will have real and lasting consequences on our ability to get rid of abortion in our state.”
