(ConservativeJournal.org) – In Wisconsin, Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is pushing for a referendum allowing voters to determine the timeframe for legal abortions, aiming to change the current 20-week limit to a range between the 12th and 15th week of pregnancy. Vos says that this initiative would decisively resolve the ongoing abortion controversy by empowering the electorate to shape policy.
Democratic Governor Tony Evers firmly opposes this proposal, saying he is committed to maintaining current reproductive healthcare accessibility for Wisconsin residents. Evers has emphasized that he will veto any legislation that restricts abortion rights beyond the parameters established under the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, which permitted states to regulate abortions around the 23rd or 24th week of gestation.
The landscape of abortion legislation in Wisconsin became tumultuous, like much of the rest of the country, in June 2022 when the US Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision. This led to a suspension of abortion services by providers, including Planned Parenthood clinics in Madison and Milwaukee.
Despite Schlipper’s rulings, the issue remains unresolved, with a Republican prosecutor challenging the decisions, it might raise the case to the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court. Vos advocates for legislative action to balance out the ambiguity surrounding abortion laws, especially given the national trend of state laws favoring abortion rights since the Roe v. Wade reversal.
The upcoming electoral cycle in 2024 may witness abortion-related measures in numerous states, with Maryland and New York already slated for ballot initiatives to keep abortion access simple.
For Vos’ proposed abortion law amendment to materialize as a statewide referendum in Wisconsin, it would have to be approved legislatively, followed by Evers’ endorsement. Wisconsin’s legislative framework does not let voters from initiating referendums, a mechanism Evers previously advocated for in addressing the controversial 1849 abortion statute.
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