CONTACT: press@wisenatedems.org
MADISON, WI – New reporting from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has again shown Wisconsin Republicans’ efforts to limit access to reproductive healthcare in our state. A new bill from Senator André Jacque (R-De Pere), would mandate women to use medical waste bags to collect and dispose of the biological material they produce as a result of a medication abortion. The bill would also levy a $20,000 fine on the companies that produce the medication used for said abortions if Wisconsin women do not use the so-called “catch kits”.
SSDC Communications Director, Will Karcz, released the following statement on Sen. Jacque’s proposed legislation:
“At a time when Wisconsinites are seeing their healthcare costs skyrocket, housing prices soar, and are paying more for groceries and childcare — Senator Jacque and Republicans, instead of lowering costs, are continuing their war on women. His latest plan, which falsely and bizarrely claims water quality is being impacted by women’s personal medical decisions, would force women to bag up and return the byproducts of a medical abortion. It’s abhorrent, disgusting, and downright creepy that Andre Jacque of all people would have this thought — let alone turn it into legislation. We look forward to making this his last term in the legislature to spare Wisconsin from these outlandish proposals moving forward.”
Read more on Senate Republican’s attacks on reproductive healthcare in Wisconsin:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Abortion as a water quality issue? Wisconsin GOP bill targets the aftermath of abortion pills
- “Wisconsin doctors who prescribe abortion pills would be required to send women home with a catch kit, medical waste bag and instructions for their return under legislation proposed by three Republican lawmakers.”
- “While doctors who fail to meet those requirements would face criminal penalties, the legislation would also hold manufacturers of abortion drugs legally responsible for any improper disposal, including through medical waste.”
- “State Senate Democratic Committee spokesman Will Karcz criticized the bill as an effort “to find any way possible to restrict access to reproductive health care in Wisconsin and called it “super creepy.”
- “Environmental experts have said there is no credible evidence that abortion medication is present in the water supply at levels that would harm humans or animals, and earlier this year the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rejected a petition by Students for Life requesting the agency restrict access to mifepristone and study its environmental effects.”
- “The bill would add the “catch kit” requirements to existing statutory restrictions on access to medication abortions. Under state law, a woman seeking a medication abortion must receive a physical examination from the prescribing doctor and must take the medication in the doctor’s presence.”
- “Doctors who violate these requirements are subject to a $10,000 fine and up to three-and-a-half years in prison.”
- “Under the bill, drug companies could face a fine of $20,000 per violation.”
