WRTL: Wisconsin Assembly passes three important pro-life bills

Wisconsin Right to Life today is hailing State Assembly passage of three major pieces of legislation that will empower women who enter Wisconsin's abortion clinics and will protect babies and taxpayers.

Senate Bill 206 (Sonya's Law) Under the leadership of Representative Pat Strachota (R-West Bend), SB 206 received Assembly approval. Sonya's Law would give every baby the opportunity for his mother to see him through ultrasound and experience his heartbeat before she makes a decision about her pregnancy. In addition, this legislation will require that an abortionist have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the abortion clinic.

The legislation was named after a young Milwaukee mother of two children who became pregnant with her third child. Sonya considered having an abortion. After seeing an advertisement for a free ultrasound, Sonya was able to see her baby and immediately made an emotional connection with him. Sonya's son will be born in July.

Sonya's Law now heads to the desk of Governor Scott Walker, who plans to sign the legislation into law.

In a previous post, I was misunderstanding here, the ultrasound is mandatory but which type of ultrasound is an option to be chosen from.

 via Steve:
Matt, the types of ultrasound include the one that most might be familiar with--where they put the jelly on the mother's abdomen and then drive the device over her uterus.  The other type is a transvaginal ultrasound.

The distinction here is important because the abortion lobby was insisting that the law requires the more invasive transvaginal ultrasound and likened it to rape. 


and Tom:

The receipt of the ultrasound is not optional, but the type of ultrasound is. Exempted are medical emergency or the case of sexual assault.

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2013/related/proposals/sb206

Further, the ultrasound tech is required to point out organs and body parts and whatnot, but the mother can opt out of hearing it. Whatever that means.

Finally, DHS is required to compile a list of places where ultrasounds are provided free of cost. Women's Care Center's Development team just got busier.



AB 216 (The Health Care Conscience Act) Under the leadership of Assembly author Representative Andre Jacque (R-Green Bay, the Assembly passed AB 216. This important legislation prohibits the use of public funds to pay for abortion coverage for public employees and exempts certain religious organizations, religious employers and religious institutions of higher learning from the current state mandate to provide insurance coverage for abortion-inducing drugs. Assembly Bill 216 now goes to the State Senate for approval at a later date. 
This is a BIG one for religious freedom. I'm sure we'll see WCC announce their approval?  The WCC did press releases for the other two bills mentioned here, but a rather noticeable silence on AB 216.

WCC Press Releases
  • June 7, 2013
    WCC Backs Right to View Ultrasound of Unborn Child [Senate Bill 206]
  • June 3, 2013
    WCC, Other Pro-Life Groups Back Ban on Gender-Based Abortions [AB 217]
AB 217 (The Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act) Led by Assembly author Steve Kestell (R-Elkhart Lake), AB 217 received Assembly approval. The legislation reads, "No person shall intentionally perform or attempt to perform an abortion with knowledge that the pregnant woman is seeking the abortion on account of the sex of the unborn child." Sex- selection abortion is used to prevent the birth of a child solely based on the gender of the unborn child. The victims of these abortions are overwhelmingly female who face the ultimate form of discrimination – they cannot be allowed to live simply because they are girls. The United States is the only industrialized country that has not banned abortions based solely on the sex of a child. Assembly Bill 217 will be voted on by the State Senate at a later date.

"Wisconsin Right to Life is deeply appreciative to Representatives Pat Strachota, Andre Jacque and Steve Kestell for their outstanding leadership on these important bills," said Susan Armacost, Legislative Director of Wisconsin Right to Life. "We also thank those Assembly Representatives who understood the importance of these bills and voted for their passage. The big winners yesterday were Wisconsin's women, babies and taxpayers."
Contact:  Susan Armacost, Legislative Director
                 414-778-5780  toll free:  877-855-5007
                 sarmacost@wrtl.org

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