Over the past week, U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wisconsin, released a statement addressing new federal legislation, and Republican assembly members held a press conference to publicly voice concern and lack of support toward pro-choice abortion policies.
“While I normally don’t comment on state legislation, the radical nature of these bills requires it,” U.S. Sen. Grothman said on Friday. “One has to wonder about the future of our nation when governors of historic states – both among the original 13 colonies – praise bills designed to approve killing children at birth.”
Rep. Grothman was referencing two new bills presented in New York and Virginia, which create less restrictions surrounding the permissibility of abortion practices.
In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation permitting all abortions until 24 weeks of pregnancy. It also allows for a doctor’s discretion regarding the performance of abortions after that time period in cases in which an abortion is necessary to protect the patient's life.
Although this bill has not been signed, in Virginia Democratic legislatures presented a bill that would loosen the hindrance of women looking to get an abortion during their third trimester. Current Virginia law requires the approval of three doctors, but the new bill would allow the performance of a third trimester abortion with only the certification of the surgeon directly.
Supporter of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Act, Grothman stated, “America, a country founded for a moral and religious people, is disgracing itself. Where are the churches? Where are the good people?”
There are only four clinics in Wisconsin that offer abortion services – two in Milwaukee, one in Madison and another in Sheboygan. The Sheboygan Planned Parenthood began offering this service within the last year, and it is only available for those in the first 10 weeks of their pregnancy. Sixty-seven percent of women in Wisconsin live in counties with no abortion clinic, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
However, many want to see these options decreased further.
Feb. 6, representatives from the Wisconsin Assembly GOP live-streamed a press conference on Facebook in which they took a stand against late-term abortion. The legislatures touched upon adoption options and the value of not aborting a child due to special needs.
"We are committed to a culture of life from birth to natural death. We'd like to work with Gov. Tony Evers on increasing resources for Wisconsin families who would like to adopt. A culture of life knows no political party,” said Majority Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.
