Current Legislation
Legislative Information Center
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Welcome to the Wisconsin Right to Life Legislative Information Center. Here you can stay on top of the latest legislative action and find your legislators.
Keep track of federal right-to-life legislative issues: Visit National Right to Life.
Current Issues and Legislation - Wisconsin
Coercive Abortion Prevention Act – SB 218 and AB 427
Wisconsin Partial-Birth Abortion Ban
Repeal of Wisconsin's Law Protecting Unborn Children
Equal Rights Amendment to Wisconsin Constitution - SJR 2
Physician-Assisted Suicide - SB 151 and AB 298
Campaign Finance Restrictions on Free Speech - SB 12, SB 77, AB 272, SB 182, and AB 355
Public Financing of Political Campaigns – SB 171, AB 250, SB 182, and AB 355
Publicly Financed Health Care Reform – SB 51, AB 94, SB 40 (Healthy Wisconsin Plan)
We Support This Legislation
Coercive Abortion Prevention Act – SB 218 and AB 427
Overview: Authored by Sen. Roger Breske (D-Eland), Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), Rep. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin), and Rep. Pat Strachota (R-West Bend), the Coercive Abortion Prevention Act would protect women who are being coerced into having an abortion. A woman has a right to refuse to consent to an abortion. Her consent is not voluntary if any person is using coercion to compel her to consent to an abortion against her will. This legislation will act as a deterrent to coerced abortion by requiring the abortion provider to highlight the fact that it is against the law for an abortion to be performed on a woman against her will. A pregnant woman who is being threatened with physical harm unless she submits to an unwanted abortion will no longer be without options. This bill will require that women in these situations be informed of resources for victims of domestic abuse. Wisconsin Right to Life is the lead organization promoting the Coercive Abortion Prevention Act.
Current Status: Senate Bill 218 was introduced on June 19, 2007 and referred to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. Assembly Bill 427 was introduced on June 21, 2007 and referred to the Assembly Committee on Judiciary and Ethics. AB 427 is the companion bill to SB 218.
Wisconsin Right to Life Legislative Analysis:
Coercive Abortion Prevention Act.pdf
Wisconsin Right to Life Public Testimony / Public Statements:
What You Can Do: Please contact your State Senator and your State Assembly Representative and urge him or her to support SB 218 and AB 427, the Coercive Abortion Protection Act. If you are not sure who your State Senator or your State Assembly Representative is, click on the Find Your Legislator link below. From there you can find your elected officials and write, call or e-mail them.
Link to actual text of legislation:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SB-218.pdf
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/AB-427.pdf
How they voted thus far on this legislation:
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We Support This Legislation
Wisconsin Partial-Birth Abortion Ban
Overview: Authored by Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) and Rep. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin), the Wisconsin Partial-Birth Abortion Ban would create a state ban on partial-birth abortion that mirrors the language of the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. Even though the federal ban makes partial-birth abortions illegal nationwide, it is still necessary to have a parallel state ban. The most important reason for Wisconsin to pass its own ban on partial-birth abortion is because the federal ban could be repealed and then partial-birth abortions would be legal in Wisconsin and all other states again. It is also important for individual states to pass their own bans on partial-birth abortion because with just a federal ban, prosecution of partial-birth abortion cases would only be handled by federal prosecutors. Prosecution of partial-birth abortion cases are best handled when state and local prosecutors also have the tools they need to ensure that the ban on partial-birth abortions is expeditiously enforced. A parallel state ban is essential to allow state and local prosecutors to become involved as well. Wisconsin Right to Life is the lead organization promoting the Wisconsin Partial Birth Abortion Ban.
Current Status: This legislation is being drafted.
Wisconsin Right to Life Legislative Analysis: Partial Birth Abortion Ban.pdf
Wisconsin Right to Life Public Testimony / Public Statements:
What You Can Do: Please contact your State Senator and your State Assembly Representative and urge him or her to support the Wisconsin Partial Birth Abortion Ban. If you are not sure who your State Senator or your State Assembly Representative is, click on the Find Your Legislator link below. From there you can find your elected officials and write, call or e-mail them.
How they voted thus far on this legislation:
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We Oppose This Legislation
Repeal of Wisconsin’s Law Protecting Unborn Children
Overview: Section 940.04, the Wisconsin ban on abortion, prohibits abortion at any stage of pregnancy, unless the abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother. Only the person performing the abortion can be penalized under Wisconsin law. Section 940.13, which was enacted in 1985, clearly states that a woman cannot be prosecuted, fined or imprisoned for obtaining an abortion. If Roe v. Wade is reversed, then s. 940.04, as modified by s. 940.13, would immediately be enforceable.
Pro-abortion legislators plan to introduce legislation to expressly repeal s. 940.04. They have attempted to do so several times in the past but Wisconsin Right to Life has been successful in defeating those efforts. It is critical that any effort to repeal s. 940.04 be defeated. Wisconsin Right to Life is the lead organization opposing the repeal of section 940.04, Wisconsin’s law protecting unborn children from abortion.
Current Status: This legislation has not been introduced at this time.
Wisconsin Right to Life Legislative Analysis:
Wisconsin ’s Law Protecting Unborn Children.pdf
Wisconsin Right to Life Public Testimony / Public Statements:
What You Can Do: Please contact your State Senator and your State Assembly Representative and urge him or her to oppose the repeal of section 940.04, Wisconsin’s law protecting unborn children from abortion. If you are not sure who your State Senator or your State Assembly Representative is, click on the Find Your Legislator link below. From there you can find your elected officials and write, call or e-mail them.
How they voted thus far on this legislation:
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We Oppose This Legislation
Equal Rights Amendment to Wisconsin’s Constitution – SJR 2
Overview: This legislation is authored by Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) and Rep. Joe Parisi (D-Madison). Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR 2) is an equal rights amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution. The Erpenbach measure would add to the Wisconsin State Constitution the following language: "All persons are guaranteed equal protection of the laws and no law shall discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, age, or ancestry. The government shall protect and secure these equal rights of the governed."
Wisconsin Right to Life is opposed to SJR 2 in its current form because the portion granting equal rights based on sex has been used as a pro-abortion weapon to require tax-funded abortion on demand. It can also be used to invalidate other limitations on abortion. These results can be avoided if an abortion neutralization provision is added to SJR 2. It would read, “Nothing in this article shall be construed to grant, secure, or deny any right relating to abortion or the funding thereof.” This language would not change the current legal status of abortion in Wisconsin, nor would it permit the equal rights amendment itself to be employed for anti-abortion purposes. It would simply make SJR 2 neutral regarding abortion. If this abortion neutralization provision is added to SJR 2, then Wisconsin Right to Life would remove its opposition. Wisconsin Right to Life is the lead organization opposing the equal rights amendment unless it is amended to be neutral on abortion.
Current Status: This legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Corrections.
Wisconsin Right to Life Legislative Analysis:
Wisconsin Right to Life Public Testimony / Public Statements:
January 16, 2007 memo to State Lawmakers from Susan Armacost
What You Can Do: Please contact your State Senator and your State Assembly Representative and urge him or her to oppose SJR 2 unless it is amended to be abortion neutral. If you are not sure who your State Senator or your State Assembly Representative is, click on the Find Your Legislator link below. From there you can find your elected officials and write, call or e-mail them.
Link to actual text of legislation:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SJR-2.pdf
How they voted thus far on this legislation:
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We Oppose This Legislation
Physician-Assisted Suicide — SB 151 and AB 298
Overview: Authored by Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison) and Rep. Frank Boyle (D-Superior), this legislation would legalize the killing of vulnerable patients by allowing their physicians to prescribe lethal doses of drugs so the patients can kill themselves. There are many dangers to the patient and to society when healing and killing are considered equally valid options for patients. We must guard against “choices” which victimize the vulnerable, ourselves and society as a whole. Doctors should heal, not kill. Wisconsin Right to Life has been in the forefront on both the state and national levels in opposing measures that would legalize physician-assisted suicide and in assisting other states facing such legislation.
Current Status: On April 19, 2007, Senate Bill 151 was introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Public Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care and Privacy. On April 30, 2007, Assembly Bill 298 was introduced and referred to the Assembly Committee on Judiciary and Ethics. AB 298 is the companion bill to SB 151.
Wisconsin Right to Life Legislative Analysis:
Wisconsin Right to Life Public Testimony / Public Statements:
Risser/Boyle Assisted Suicide Measure is a Human Rights Atrocity … It is NOT “Medical Progress!”
What You Can Do: Please contact your State Senator and your State Assembly Representative and urge them to oppose SB 151 and AB 298, the Risser/Boyle bill that would legalize physician-assisted suicide. If you are not sure who your State Senator or your State Assembly Representative is, click on the Find Your Legislator link below. From there you can find your elected officials and write, call or e-mail them.
Links to actual text of legislation:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SB-151.pdf http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/AB-298.pdf
How they voted thus far on this legislation:
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We Oppose This Legislation
Campaign Finance Restrictions on Free Speech – SB 12, SB 77, AB 272, SB 182, and AB 355
Overview: Currently there are several campaign finance proposals which would make numerous changes in Wisconsin’s campaign finance laws. The changes that would take place under the campaign finance proposals include several onerous provisions requiring citizen groups, like Wisconsin Right to Life, to submit to unwieldy reporting requirements, making it extremely difficult for Wisconsin Right to Life to freely engage in political discourse at election time. Wisconsin Right to Life’s constitutional right to disseminate the voting records of office holders and the positions of political candidates to the public on right-to-life issues would be severely curtailed under the campaign finance proposals. These proposals are an affront to our nation’s cherished First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Wisconsin Right to Life is the lead organization opposing campaign finance proposals that infringe our First Amendment rights.
Current Status: (1) Senate Bill 12, authored by Sen. Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) and Rep. Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah), was introduced on January 24, 2007 and was referred to the Senate Committee on Campaign Finance Reform, Rural Issues and Information Technology.
(2) Senate Bill 77, authored by Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) and Rep. Dave Travis (D-Waunakee), was introduced on February 28, 2007 and was referred to the Senate Committee on Campaign Finance Reform, Rural Issues and Information Technology. A public hearing was held on May 1, 2007 and SB 77 was passed by the state senate on May 9, 2007. On May 23, 2007, SB 77 was referred to the Assembly Committee on Elections and Constitutional Law.
(3) Assembly Bill 272, authored by Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine), was introduced on April 23, 2007 and referred to the Assembly Committee on Elections and Constitutional Law. AB 272 contains the same provisions as SB 77, plus it covers additional means of mass communication including electronic communication, mass distribution and mass telephoning.
(4) Senate Bill 182, authored by Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison), was introduced on May 14, 2007 and referred to the Senate Committee on Campaign Finance Reform, Rural Issues and Information Technology. SB 182 is the companion bill to AB 355.
(5) Assembly Bill 355, authored by Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) and Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison), was introduced on May 24, 2007 and referred to the Assembly Committee on Elections and Constitutional Law. AB 355 is the companion bill to SB 182.
Wisconsin Right to Life Legislative Analysis:
Wisconsin Right to Life Public Testimony / Public Statements:
Testimony of Susan Armacost on May 1, 2007
Committee to Vote on “the Politicians Protection Act” (SB 77) and “The Welfare for Politicians Act” (SB 171)
What You Can Do: Please contact your State Senator and urge them to oppose SB 12, AB 272, SB 182 and AB 355, campaign finance proposals that infringe our First Amendment rights; and please contact your State Assembly Representative and urge them to oppose SB 12, SB 77, AB 272, SB 182 and AB 355, campaign finance proposals that infringe our First Amendment rights. If you are not sure who your State Senator or your State Assembly Representative is, click on the Find Your Legislator link below. From there you can find your elected officials and write, call or e-mail them.
Links to actual text of legislation:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SB-12.pdf
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SB-77.pdf
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/AB-272.pdf
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SB-182.pdf
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/AB-355.pdf
How they voted thus far on this legislation:
Votes on SB 77
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We Oppose This Legislation
Public Financing of Political Campaigns – SB 171, AB 250, SB 182, and AB 355
Overview: Both Senate Bill 171 and Assembly Bill 250 create a mechanism to force taxpayers to pay for the campaigns of candidates for the office of justice of the supreme court in Wisconsin. Both Senate Bill 182 and Assembly Bill 355 force taxpayers to pay for the campaigns of candidates for most state offices. All of these bills would significantly increase the amount of taxpayer dollars available for financing political campaigns, in addition to increasing the amount of money that a taxpayer can contribute to the state treasury through the income tax “check off.”
Wisconsin Right to Life strenuously opposes the use of tax dollars to fund the elections of any candidate for any political office. What this amounts to is forcing taxpayers to foot the bill for the campaign expenses of candidates they may oppose and not want elected. Wisconsin citizens want to decide for themselves if they want to contribute to a politician’s campaign and to whom they will contribute. Wisconsin Right to Life is the lead organization opposing proposals for the public financing of political campaigns.
Current Status: (1) Assembly Bill 250, authored by Rep. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) and Sen. Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee), was introduced on April 10, 2007 and referred to the Assembly Committee on Elections and Constitutional Law. AB 250 contains the same public financing provisions as SB 171, but it does not contain the income tax “check off” provisions in SB 171.
(2) Senate Bill 171, authored by Sen. Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls) and Rep. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh), was introduced on April 27, 2007 and was referred to the Senate Committee on Campaign Finance Reform, Rural Issues and Information Technology. A public hearing was held on May 1, 2007. SB 171 contains the same provisions as AB 250, plus it contains provisions regarding the income tax “check off” to fund elections.
(3) Senate Bill 182, authored by Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison), was introduced on May 14, 2007 and referred to the Senate Committee on Campaign Finance Reform, Rural Issues and Information Technology. SB 182 is the companion bill to AB 355.
(4) Assembly Bill 355, authored by Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) and Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison), was introduced on May 24, 2007 and referred to the Assembly Committee on Elections and Constitutional Law. AB 355 is the companion bill to SB 182.
Wisconsin Right to Life Legislative Analysis:
Wisconsin Right to Life Public Testimony / Public Statements:
Committee to Vote on “the Politicians Protection Act” (SB 77) and “The Welfare for Politicians Act” (SB 171)
What You Can Do: Please contact your State Senator and your State Assembly Representative and urge them to oppose AB 250, SB 171, SB 182 and AB 355, proposals that would mandate the public financing of elections. If you are not sure who your State Senator or your State Assembly Representative is, click on the Find Your Legislator link below. From there you can find your elected officials and write, call or e-mail them.
Links to actual text of legislation:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/AB-250.pdf
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SB-171.pdf
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SB-182.pdf
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/AB-355.pdf
How they voted thus far on this legislation:
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We Oppose This Legislation
Publicly Financed Health Care Reform – SB 51, AB 94, SB 40 (Healthy Wisconsin Plan)
Overview: The state legislature has been considering a number of proposals that would reform the Wisconsin health care system. Wisconsin Right to Life does not have a position on health care reform itself. However, we oppose any health care reform proposal that would permit abortion coverage, require taxpayer funding for abortion, discriminate against pregnant women, or that would not adequately protect the health care needs of older people, the infirm or those with disabilities. Wisconsin Right to Life is the lead organization monitoring health care reform proposals to make sure they protect the value and dignity of human life from conception until natural death.
The health care reform proposal currently being considered is the Healthy Wisconsin Plan which is a publicly financed, universal health plan that would replace the private health care plans in Wisconsin with a plan that provides the same benefits available under the state employee health plan. The key right-to-life issue about the Healthy Wisconsin Plan is abortion coverage. The authors of this plan claim that it only covers “therapeutic abortions”. In reality, the state employee health plan can cover all abortions. State employees are actually offered two plans: (1) the Standard Plan which expressly covers “legal abortions,” and (2) a choice of many HMO plans which are required to provide the “Uniform Benefits” plan. The Uniform Benefits plan provides coverage for “therapeutic abortions,” but it does not define this term. Typical definitions of therapeutic abortion cover abortions for the mother’s “health.” “Health” in the abortion context has been broadly defined by the U.S. Supreme Court and in practice covers all abortions. Consequently, the Healthy Wisconsin Plan would be the only health plan available to most Wisconsin residents and taxpayers would be forced to pay for the abortions of any woman, for any reason, at any time during pregnancy for as many times as a woman would choose to have an abortion.
Current Status: (1) Senate Bill 51, authored by Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona) and Rep. Chuck Benedict (D-Beloit), was introduced on February 20, 2007 and referred to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. SB 51 would have created a publicly financed health care system for Wisconsin residents. Beginning on March 8, 2007, the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services held public hearings on SB 51 and other health care reform plans at Green Bay, Eau Claire and Bristol (near Kenosha). SB 51 and AB 94 are companion bills.
(2) Assembly Bill 94, authored by Rep. Chuck Benedict (D-Beloit) and Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona), was introduced on February 22, 2007 and referred to the Assembly Committee on Health and Health Care Reform. AB 94 is the companion bill to SB 51.
(3) Senate Bill 40, the bi-annual state budget submitted by Governor Jim Doyle, was introduced on February 14, 2007. On June 25, 2007 the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services held a public hearing on a universal health care plan known as the “Healthy Wisconsin Plan” which was drafted as an amendment to SB 40. On June 26, 2007, the senate democrats adopted this amendment as part of their version of the state budget. Since July 17, 2007, after the assembly republicans adopted their version of the state budget, a conference committee has been meeting to work out the differences. It is not known whether the Healthy Wisconsin Plan will remain in the state budget. If not, it will probably be introduced as a separate piece of legislation.
Wisconsin Right to Life Legislative Analysis:
Wisconsin Right to Life Position on Health Care Reform.pdf [ß need to add letterhead to this document]
Wisconsin Right to Life Public Testimony / Public Statements:
Wake Up, Wisconsin Taxpayers! Under “Healthy Wisconsin” You Will Pay for Abortion on Demand (PDF)
What You Can Do: Please contact your State Senator and your State Assembly Representative and let him or her know about the pro-life concerns regarding health care reform proposals. If you are not sure who your State Senator or your State Assembly Representative is, click on the Find Your Legislator link below. From there you can find your elected officials and write, call or e-mail them.
Links to actual text of legislation:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SB-51.pdf
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/AB-94.pdf
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SB40-SSA1-SA1.pdf (pages 241 - 270)
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