State Senate Democratic Committee: On the fourth anniversary of Dobbs, Senate Democrats commit to enshrining a woman’s right to reproductive care

MADISON, WI – Today, all 15 Senate Democrats, led by Democratic Leader Dianne Hesselbein, along with Senate candidates Representatives Jenna Jacobson (SD-17) and Robyn Vining (SD-5), Trevor Jung (SD-21), and Charly Ray (SD-25), published an open letter in the CAP Times, ensuring that they will take every available avenue to guarantee the reproductive rights of Wisconsin women. The caucus made clear they must go beyond legislation, give voters a say, and enshrine reproductive freedom in Wisconsin’s Constitution.

Read More on Senate Democrats Promise to Enshrine a Woman’s Right to Choose:

CAP Times: Wisconsin Could Enshrine the Right to Choose for Good

Today marks the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which revoked a woman’s right to choose and represented one of the most significant losses of individual rights in recent American history.

This ushered in the post-Roe era, in which access to reproductive healthcare depends largely on the state where you live. It is an era defined by grieving families telling the stories of loved ones who were denied the care they needed and deserved.

By now, most Americans have heard their stories, if not lived through them themselves: Megan Kling from Madison, who was forced to continue carrying a pregnancy deemed unviable, risking her life because of the 1849 abortion ban. The story of Laurel Marcinkus from Kenosha who, while pregnant, suffered from a blood clot that endangered her life and was forced to complete two ultrasounds with different doctors, putting her at greater risk because of extreme abortion restrictions. The thousands of women made to cross state lines to access their right to reproductive care.

In response to these harrowing tragedies, voters across the country mobilized, and Democrats have fought to restore reproductive rights in every election since Dobbs. In Wisconsin, that fight played out in state Supreme Court elections, culminating nearly three years later in the end of enforcement of the state’s 1849 abortion ban. However, with Democrats in Wisconsin within reach of a trifecta, we have the opportunity to cement women’s right to healthcare access for good.

Every year, in every spring and fall election, we talk about the devastating Dobbs decision and its impacts on women across the country. This year, however, we have an opportunity to stop playing politics with something as basic and fundamental as the right to choose and guarantee this right for future generations. This begins with legislation codifying Wisconsinite’s right to access contraception, removing state-mandated delays, ultrasound requirements, bans on using certain healthcare plans to access an abortion, and taking the 1849 ban off the books for good. We intend to act swiftly, bringing down barriers designed to restrict access even when abortion remains legal.

Yet, Senate Democrats understand that this is not sufficient. Laws can be overturned by Republican majorities in the Legislature and in our courts, and it is unacceptable to leave the door open on a fundamental right. There cannot be another generation of women who fight for abortion access and succeed, only to see it ripped away. That is why we must ultimately enshrine reproductive freedom in the Wisconsin constitution, giving the final say to Wisconsin voters who have told us time and time again that politicians in Madison shouldn’t be making personal healthcare-related decisions for women across Wisconsin.

When Democrats win legislative majorities, we will enshrine the will of the majority in our state constitution. We will pass the right to reproductive healthcare in both chambers, in two concurrent Legislatures, and when we do, the residents of our state will have the opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment to guarantee this right for Wisconsin women. When voters enshrine this right in our state, access to abortion and reproductive healthcare will be out of reach for extreme politicians, their archaic beliefs, and their attempts to control women’s bodies.

Our bottom line is this: reproductive rights cannot be subject to the shifting tides of electoral politics. It is time to take this issue out of the arena of partisan politics, enshrine the right to bodily autonomy in our State’s Constitution, and guarantee Wisconsinites reproductive healthcare for generations to come.

State Sen. Dianne Hesselbein is the Wisconsin Senate minority leader. She wrote this column on behalf of the Wisconsin Senate Democratic Committee, which includes: Sen. Dora Drake, Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin, Sen. Kris Dassler-Alfheim, Sen. Sarah Keyeski, Sen. Latonya Johnson, Sen. Melissa Ratcliff, Sen. Kelda Roys, Sen. Cris Larson, Sen. Bob Wirch, Sen. Tim Carpenter, Sen. Brad Pfaff, Sen. Jeff Smith, Sen. Jamie Wall, Sen. Mark Spreitzer, Rep. and candidate for Senate Jenna Jacobson, State Rep. and candidate for Senate Robyn Vining, Director of RYDE Racine and candidate for Senate Trevor Jung, Senate candidate Charly Ray.