In a final late-night session for the Wisconsin Assembly, lawmakers rushed through more than 50 bills to pass before the state’s legislative session ends for the year, including a bill that would make changes to abortion procedures.
Lawmakers debated a bill which would require a physician to conduct a physical examination before giving an abortion-inducing pill to a patient, and mandate a physician be present when giving the pill. The bill passed the Republican-controlled Assembly 60-33 and will head to Gov. Scott Walker for signing.
Under the bill, doctors would also have to inform a woman seeking an abortion 24 hours before the procedure that she has a right to refuse, her consent is not voluntary if anyone coerces her and it is illegal for a doctor to perform an abortion without her consent.
Co-author Rep. Michelle Litjens, R-Oshkosh, asked lawmakers to consider the bill as a protection for women, not an abortion bill.
“We’re encouraging women to do what they should be doing. Again, this is not about abortion; abortion is very legal in the state of Wisconsin,” Litjens said. “What we’re talking about here is protecting women and respecting women so they have the opportunity to make the best decision for themselves.”
Litjens said an abusive boyfriend could coerce a woman into an abortion and this bill would guarantee she is not receiving a procedure she does not want.
Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, said the bill intrudes on patient-physician relations by making doctors who do not follow the rules felons.
“This is big brother government. This is a lot more government, and it’s in an area where you least want it” Taylor said.
Legislators turned down 15 amendments offered by Democrats. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, offered a substitute amendment, tabled on a 61-32 vote, which would have applied the bill to men who take Viagra.
Pocan listed the side effects of Viagra, which include chest pains, blurred vision and gastritis, a disease Pocan did not know about but said sounds “really bad.”
“I think in 14 years that’s the first time I’ve had the chance to say erectile dysfunction on the floor,” Pocan said.
He said his amendment would establish equality between both genders under the bill, rather than targeting one gender unfairly. Pocan added the bill shows legislators do not trust Wisconsinites to make decisions.
While admitting the side effects of Viagra sound “terrible,” Rep. Tom Larson, R-Colfax, said a difference exists between administering Viagra and getting an abortion.
“There’s a side effect to abortion also: a guarantee that 100 percent of the time there’s going to be a dead baby,” Larson said.
The Assembly also passed a bill on a 80-14 vote establishing Walker’s Lead to Read initiative, which aims to have all students reading by fourth grade. It too will go to Walker’s desk for signing.
Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts, D-Middleton, said she would support the bill but would have liked it to include accountability measures for voucher schools especially since taxpayers are funding the students.
However, Rep. Steve Kestell, R-Elkhart Lake, said at the time of writing the bill, legislators had not seen a report from the committee who worked on accountability. He said legislators want to wait on the report so accountability measures can be 100 percent effective.
