Evers calls another special session to repeal 1849 abortion ban

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) is calling another special session of Wisconsin’s state legislature to create a path to repeal a strict abortion law that was passed in 1849.

This is not the first time Evers has attempted to remove this unpopular law. In June, he called a similar session where the Republican-controlled legislature gaveled in and out of the session in less than a minute.

Now, Evers is trying to put the power in the hands of the people to remove this law. The session will be held the morning of Oct. 5 and will address the inability of Wisconsinites to change state laws by referendum. Evers is introducing a constitutional amendment to d allow Wisconsin voters to put  citizen-led initiatives on the ballot, which more than half the states in the U.S. allow.

The 1849 law makes the act of performing an abortion a felony, with the only exception being to save the life of the mother. There are no stipulations for rape, incest or to preserve the health of the mother under this law.

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, Wisconsin became one of the many states to automatically incorporate strict anti-abortion laws. These bans have put an enormous strain on Planned Parenthood clinics in pro-abortion states like Illinois, who are seeing high volumes of out-of-state patients after the Dobbs decision.

While announcing the new session during a press conference, Evers quoted U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) in reference to bipartisan support for the amendment.

“If Republican legislatures aren’t going to uphold the will of the people, then the people of the state should have a right to take a stand at the ballot box.”

Evers is currently in a tight race for reelection against Republican construction tycoon Tim Michels. If elected governor, Michels has made it clear he has no interest in advocating for women’s reproductive rights. In fact, several Midwestern Republicans are now calling for bans on contraception.