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Monday, July 20, 2015 - Press Release

Governor Scott Walker Signs Three Bills Into Law

Madison – Governor Scott Walker signed three bills into law today at Fox Valley Technical College in Oshkosh.

Senate Bill 179 – Signed into law today, prohibits abortion 20 weeks or more after fertilization, except in the case of a medical emergency.  Under the bill, no person can perform or induce an abortion when the unborn child is considered to be capable of experiencing pain.  Authored by Senator Mary Lazich (R–New Berlin) and Representative Jesse Kremer (R–Kewaskum), the bill passed the Senate 19-14 and passed the Assembly 61-34 with 2 Paired; it is Act 56.

Senate Bill 205 – Signed into law today, covers employees in the public safety collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds.  This bill was introduced by the Joint Committee on Employment Relations, chaired by Senator Mary Lazich (R–New Berlin) and Representative Robin Vos (R-Rochester).  The bill passed the Senate 33-0 and passed the Assembly 94-0; it is Act 57.

Senate Bill 206 – Signed into law today, relates to statutory changes to reflect the intent of the state compensation plan.  This bill was introduced by the Joint Committee on Employment Relations, chaired by Senator Mary Lazich (R–New Berlin) and Representative Robin Vos (R-Rochester).  The bill passed the Senate 19-14 and passed the Assembly 64-30; it is Act 58.

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Susan B. Anthony List

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 20, 2015
Contact: Mallory Quigley

Gov. Scott Walker Signs Landmark Protection for Babies After 5 Months

Wisconsin is the 15th state to protect pain-capable babies

Washington, D.C – Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) today signed the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, compassionate legislation stopping abortions after five months, based on the child’s ability to feel pain. Gov. Walker sent an open letter in March in firm support of the legislation, saying: “I will sign that bill when it gets to my desk and support similar legislation on the federal level. I was raised to believe in the sanctity of life and I will always fight to protect it.”

SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser offered the following comment:

“From defunding America’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, to blocking abortion on-demand in the state health care exchanges, Governor Walker has consistently stood up to defend the unborn and their mothers. We thank him for following through on his commitment sign this human-centered legislation. His signature makes Wisconsin the 15th state to enact this popular, compassionate protection for babies capable of feeling pain.

“Americans are united in their desire to see the United States removed from the list of only seven nations to permit abortion after 20 weeks, more than halfway through pregnancy. The horrific video released last week exposing Planned Parenthood’s willingness to further commodify the unborn children they destroy – including babies beyond five months gestation – underlines the urgent need to pass federal legislation.”

SBA List worked with the bill’s sponsor Mary Lazich, State Senate President and member of the SBA List National Pro-Life Women’s Caucus, as well as other pro-life leaders to advance the bill. The group’s research arm, the Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI), also provided expert witnesses to testify before the joint House and Senate committee including Maureen Condic, Ph.D., Dr. Donna Harrison, and Dr. Sheila Page.

A November 2014 poll from Quinnipiac found that 60 percent of Americans, including 56 percent of Independents and 46 percent of Democrats, support the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. Including Gov. Scott Walker, 13 GOP presidential candidates have publicly endorsed Pain-Capable legislation.


Center for Reproductive Rights

Ignoring Objections of Major Medical Groups, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker Signs Cruel Ban on Abortion at 20 Weeks of Pregnancy

(PRESS RELEASE) Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed a measure into law today which bans safe and legal abortion after twenty weeks of pregnancy with an extremely narrow exception for medical emergencies.

HB179—which is slated to take effect next year—was opposed by major medical groups in the state, including the Wisconsin Section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Wisconsin Medical Society, the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians, and the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics because of the dangers to a woman’s health and wellbeing.  A group of 100 obstetrician-gynecologists directed a letter to Governor Walker and the Wisconsin legislature opposing the ban because “SB 179 would block Wisconsin ob-gyns from being able to treat our patients in a medically appropriate and humane manner. This bill would undoubtedly place us in the unconscionable position of having to watch our patients and their loved ones undergo emotional trauma, illness and suffering during what is already a difficult time.” 

Wisconsin women who seek abortion services already face extreme barriers to care, as there are only four clinics providing abortion services in the entire state.  Additionally, Wisconsin clinics have been fighting to keep their doors open in the face of a clinic shutdown law since 2013.

Said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights:

“Wisconsin politicians have criminalized safe, legal abortion services at the same time they are attempting to eliminate all abortion services by shutting down clinics with sham laws and red tape.

“With this law, women in Wisconsin will soon face a catch-22 of shrinking options earlier in pregnancy and a complete ban on services later in pregnancy. Women deserve to make their own health care decisions with the medical professionals she trusts, not interference from her governor or legislature who presume to know better. ” 

The U.S. Supreme Court has consistently held—first in Roe v. Wade and again in Planned Parenthood v. Casey—that states cannot ban abortion prior to viability. Last year, the Supreme Court refused to review a decision permanently blocking Arizona’s ban on abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy, and courts in Idaho and Georgia have also recently blocked similar pre-viability bans.

Bans on abortion at 20 weeks take critical medical decisions out of the hands of women and their trusted health care providers at a time when those services may be the best medical option for a variety of reasons. Furthermore, measures like Wisconsin’s prohibit services at a point at which a woman is just receiving the results of critical tests to determine the health of her pregnancy—and potentially the presence of life-threatening complications and severe fetal abnormalities.

Harmful and unconstitutional restrictions like these further underscore the need for the federal Women's Health Protection Act (S. 217/HR. 448)—a bill that would prohibit states like Wisconsin from imposing unconstitutional restrictions on reproductive health care providers that apply to no similar medical care, interfere with women’s personal decision making, and block access to safe and legal abortion services.



Earlier in the year...

Friends of Scott Walker
March 3, 2015

Open Letter on Life
      
Life is a value I learned from my parents, and it’s a value I have cherished every day, predating my time in politics. My policies throughout my career have earned a 100% rating with pro-life groups in Wisconsin. Just in my first term I signed numerous pieces of pro-life legislation and I will continue working for every life.

In my past four years as governor, we have made substantial progress in the fight for our pro-life values in Wisconsin. We defunded Planned Parenthood. We prohibited abortion from being covered by health plans in a health exchange. We passed legislation assuring the women and their unborn child are better protected under law – through placing stringent requirements on medical professionals and requiring the provision of thorough and vital information to the mother.

As the Wisconsin legislature moves forward in the coming session, further protections for mother and child are likely to come to my desk in the form of a bill to prohibit abortions after 20 weeks. I will sign that bill when it gets to my desk and support similar legislation on the federal level.

I was raised to believe in the sanctity of life and I will always fight to protect it.

Sincerely,

Governor Scott Walker

Susan B. Anthony List
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 3, 2015
Contact: Mallory Quigley

Gov. Scott Walker Announces Support of Popular Five-Month Abortion Limit

Walker: “I was raised to believe in the sanctity of life and I will always fight to protect it.”

Washington, D.C – This afternoon, Wisconsin Governor and 2016 hopeful Scott Walker sent an open letter outlining his pro-life record and stating his firm support for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

“As the Wisconsin legislature moves forward in the coming session, further protections for mother and child are likely to come to my desk in the form of a bill to prohibit abortions after 20 weeks,” writes Governor Walker, “I will sign that bill when it gets to my desk and support similar legislation on the federal level. I was raised to believe in the sanctity of life and I will always fight to protect it.”

In response, Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser said:

“Governor Walker is making his pro-life convictions concrete in his presidential platform.  His commitment to the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in Wisconsin and nationally is the best first step for a pro-life candidate and one that is embraced by the nation. This popular legislation has been endorsed by almost every Republican hopeful for 2016. The only likely candidate who has not yet endorsed the measure is Governor Chris Christie. We encourage him to back up his strong statements at CPAC last week by taking this concrete action.

 “Americans are united in their desire to see the United States removed from the list of only seven nations to permit abortion after 20 weeks, almost six months. This is past the point when the unborn child can feel pain,” she said.

“While we fight for a federal law banning these brutal abortions, states are taking action. West Virginia is on the way to becoming the 14th state to pass a five month abortion limit. West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin shamefully vetoed the Pain-Capable bill this morning after it had passed the legislature with bipartisan support. The legislation is so popular that the governor’s veto is almost certain to be overridden.”

A November 2014 poll from Quinnipiac found that 60 percent of Americans, including 56 percent of Independents and 46 percent of Democrats, support the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act previously passed the House in 2013 by a 228-196 vote.  To date, 13 states have enacted Pain-Capable laws. In addition to West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin are also expected to advance Pain-Capable legislation this year.

The Susan B. Anthony List is dedicated to pursuing policies and electing candidates who will reduce and ultimately end abortion. To that end, the SBA List emphasizes the education, promotion, mobilization, and election of pro-life women.  The SBA List is a network of more than 365,000 pro-life Americans nationwide.

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