Article Summary –
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) is advocating for an “education campaign” displaying images of embryos and fetuses at various stages of pregnancy to rally support for a state ban on abortion beyond 14 weeks of pregnancy. Johnson believes these images would help pass a bill authorizing a voter referendum on a 14-week abortion ban. Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesperson Joe Oslund responded, referencing a previous statewide referendum on abortion and a liberal justice’s victory in the 2023 state Supreme Court election after pledging to protect abortion rights.
Senator Ron Johnson’s Proposed “Education Campaign”
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) is advocating for an “education campaign” that will display images of embryos and fetuses at various stages of pregnancy. His goal is to garner support for a state ban on abortion after 14 weeks of pregnancy.
Johnson told reporters, “We need to understand, what an abortion looks like at every stage of pregnancy… we should have an education campaign that describes what life looks like inside the womb at different stages.”
He believes that showing these images will help Republicans pass a bill authorizing a 14-week abortion ban voter referendum.
Response from the Wisconsin Democratic Party
In response, Joe Oslund, a spokesperson for the Wisconsin Democratic Party, shared his thoughts, urging Senator Johnson to rethink his arguments. Oslund referenced a past referendum on abortion where voters clearly expressed their stances.
Previous Attempts for a Referendum
The Republican-controlled Wisconsin State Assembly passed a similar bill in January but it was not picked up by the State Senate.
Even if the bill had been passed by both GOP-controlled chambers, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers would have vetoed it.
Planned Parenthood and the Overturning of Roe v. Wade
After the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in June 2022 that overturned Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin ceased providing abortions in the state for 15 months.
However, abortions resumed in September 2023 after a judge ruled that the law did not pertain to consensual abortions.
Vice President Kamala Harris’s Visit to La Crosse
Vice President Kamala Harris visited La Crosse on the same day, speaking about the importance of protecting and expanding reproductive rights in the U.S.
She blamed former President Donald Trump and Republicans for the current state of abortion rights, pointing to their role in nominating and confirming justices who overturned Roe v. Wade.
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