Capitol Update
By Senator Howard Marklein
April 19, 2019
 

Protecting Life In Wisconsin
Legislature considers legislation to address serious issues related to abortion in WI.

Easter is a perfect opportunity to celebrate life! The Wisconsin legislature is currently considering several pieces of legislation to address serious issues related to abortion in Wisconsin. Among these bills are three proposals I have co-sponsored because I believe they are positive, necessary actions we must take to protect babies and their mothers. In fact, two of these bills require physicians to provide more information to mothers so that they can make informed choices. Education, in the midst of emotional decisions, is very important to make the right choice.
 
The Anti-Abortion Discrimination Bill would ban abortions that are performed solely based on the sex, race, color, national origin, and ancestry or disability diagnosis of the unborn child. While I am shocked that we must legislate this idea, the reality is that we must in order to protect the lives of children.
 
This bill would prohibit a doctor from performing an abortion if they know that a woman is seeking the abortion solely because of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex or disability. This bill creates penalties for violating this law and also allows a claim for damages for violation of the law in certain circumstances.  In addition, this bill adds language to current law in which physicians are required to inform a woman who is seeking an abortion that Wisconsin does not allow an abortion of an unborn child solely because of the unborn child's race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, or diagnosis or potential diagnosis of Down syndrome or another congenital disability.
 
The Woman’s Right to Know Act requires physicians to tell a woman who is undergoing a chemical abortion through medication that there is a small opportunity of time in which the effects of the first pill can be counteracted and reversed if she changes her mind. I believe that it is important for a woman to have every opportunity to choose life. If she begins the process of a chemical abortion and changes her mind, she may have a chance to save her child’s life and she should know about this option.
 
Finally, the Born Alive Protection Act requires health care providers to provide medical care to babies who survive attempted abortions. Doctors would be required to provide the same care that would be provided to other babies who are born at the same gestational age in other circumstances. It also requires a baby who is born alive from a failed abortion attempt to be transported to a hospital for continued care.
 
It is terrible that we have to write a law to protect the lives of children who are born, despite an attempt to abort them. However, as we have witnessed in other states such as New York and Virginia, there is a segment of the population that does not recognize living children as people if they survive an attempted abortion. They do not consider the living child to be worthy of medical care and we have heard horrific stories that we must prevent with this legislation. Every life is precious no matter the age of the child and every child should be given the opportunity to live.

For more information and to connect with me, visit my website http://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/17/marklein and subscribe to my weekly E-Update by sending an email to Sen.Marklein@legis.wisconsin.gov. Do not hesitate to call 800-978-8008 if you have any questions or need assistance with any state-related matters.