Newly redistricted Wisconsin Republican co-sponsored strict abortion ban despite being for ‘medical freedom’

In Wisconsin, a redistricted state representative has a harsh record on abortion rights despite previously co-sponsoring a package of “medical freedom” bills.

State Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie), who originally represented District 29 in the Wisconsin State Assembly, is now running for the same seat in District 92, claims to be an advocate for “medical freedom,” yet has a robust track record of anti-abortion advocacy. 

Just in the past year, the practicing chiropractor and former Menomonie Area School Board member supported a 14-week abortion ban that the Republican-controlled Assembly passed — though Gov. Tony Evers (D) ultimately vetoed the bill. 

But it was in 2021 when Moses was particularly adamant about defending so-called health freedom. Moses backed bills such as a law that would compel doctors who prescribe mifepristone, an abortion drug, to inform women of untested “abortion reversal drugs”; co-sponsored legislation that would have prevented Wisconsin’s state Medicaid program from going to health care institutions that provide abortions; and voted to criminalize abortion providers under certain circumstances.

Additionally, Moses was endorsed in 2020 by two anti-abortion groups — Pro-Life Wisconsin and Wisconsin Right to Life — both of which champion state-wide abortion bans with almost no exceptions. The former also supports the concept of “fetal personhood,” a philosophy that treats fertilized eggs as human beings. This in turn would lay the foundation for restrictions on in vitro fertilization. 

Concerning medical freedom, Moses introduced a bill in 2022 to protect doctors that express unorthodox opinions — right as him and fellow Republicans were defending doctors that prescribed ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, despite medical consensus saying not to.