Wisconsin Republicans: 1849 anti-abortion law preferable to special session

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced Wednesday that he will be calling a special session in the state legislature on June 22. Evers is urging the Republican-controlled Wisconsin state legislature to repeal 1849 an anti-abortion law.

This law makes it a felony to perform an abortion at any point during a pregnancy and does not include any exceptions for rape or incest.  The only way to obtain an abortion under this law would be if two doctors agree that the procedure would save the life of the mother.

“Every single Wisconsinite should have the right to consult their family, their faith, their doctor to make a reproductive healthcare decision that’s right for them,” Evers said in a news conference Wednesday morning.  “And every single Wisconsinite should be able to make that deeply personal decision without interference from politicians who don’t know anything about their life circumstances, values, and responsibilities.”

However, Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) told CBS 58’s Emilee Fannon that the Senate will gavel in and out of the session, essentially refusing to work with Evers.

“Wisconsin law has not changed, and our pro-life position has not changed. Killing innocent babies is not healthcare,” LeMahieu told Fannon. “We will gavel out of another blatantly political special session.”

This law has laid dormant in the state since 1973, when the Supreme Court effectively legalized abortion across the United States with the landmark Roe v. Wade case.  However, a leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court seemed to point to Roe v. Wade being repealed this month  With the decision looming, Evers is hoping to persuade his state government to overturn their pre-Civil War abortion ban that could again be the law of Wisconsin when the SCOTUS delivers its decision.

“Overturning Roe could have disastrous consequences for so many people we love and care about — our family members, our friends, and our neighbors — who could have their ability to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions take from them,” Evers wrote.

Evers has previously pushed the Wisconsin Legislature to repeal the abortion ban, to no avail.  In fact, when presented with several bills that would restrict the reproductive rights of women, he vetoed them all.

“I’ve said all along, I’ll never stop fighting for reproductive rights and safe legal access to abortion as long as I’m governor,” said Evers, repeating, “And today, I’m asking Wisconsinites in every corner of our great state to join us in making their voices heard.”