New Bill Repealing 1849 Criminal Abortion Ban is a Necessary Step

This morning, Gov. Tony Evers and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez - alongside Democratic state legislators Kelda Roys and Lisa Subeck - reintroduced legislation that would restore abortion rights in Wisconsin by repealing the state’s 1849 criminal abortion ban.

tony evers delivering state of the state 2022
tony evers delivering state of the state 2022

MADISON, Wis. – This morning, Gov. Tony Evers and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez – alongside Democratic state legislators Kelda Roys and Lisa Subeck – reintroduced legislation that would restore abortion rights in Wisconsin by repealing the state’s 1849 criminal abortion ban.

The archaic ban threatens doctors and nurses with felony charges for providing abortion care, and bans abortion in nearly every case – including in cases of rape and incest. It went into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court MAGA majority overturned Roe v. Wade, our constitutional right to abortion, last summer.

“The legislation introduced today by the Evers administration and Democratic legislators is a necessary step in restoring safe, legal abortion access in Wisconsin,” said Chris Walloch, executive director of A Better Wisconsin Together. “Wisconsinites have made it clear that the barbaric, 174-year-old criminal abortion ban must be repealed, and this bill would do just that.”

According to a Marquette University Law School Poll, over 80% of Wisconsinites oppose the antiquated provisions written in the abortion ban.

“No matter a person’s zip code, everyone deserves the freedom to make decisions about their own reproductive healthcare,” Walloch continued. “Politicians have no place in Wisconsin’s exam rooms, and as long as the criminal abortion ban stays in place, elected officials will continue to insert themselves into decisions that ought to be made privately, between patient and doctor.”

Walloch also noted, “A Better Wisconsin Together applauds Gov. Evers, Lt. Gov. Rodriguez, and Democratic legislators in their introduction of this bill, and we encourage all of our state legislators to pledge their support as well.”

Call your legislator today at 1-800-362-9472, and demand they work together with Gov. Evers to repeal Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban.

# # #

A Better Wisconsin Together is a state-based research and communications hub for progressives and is an affiliate of ProgressNow.

wisconsin republican rep. shannon zimmerman speaking into a microphone
wisconsin republican rep. shannon zimmerman speaking into a microphone

Assembly Republicans End the Year Blocking Postpartum Medicaid and Attacking Public Schools

In their last scheduled floor period of the year, Republicans in Wisconsin’s state Assembly have their priorities in all the wrong places

empty wisconsin capitol legislative chamber, overhead shot
empty wisconsin capitol legislative chamber, overhead shot

GOP State Senate Misses Last Opportunity to Help Wisconsinites Before Taking Off for the Year

Wisconsin’s GOP-controlled State Senate, which made headlines as one of the laziest legislative bodies in recent state history, held its last floor session of the year today

wisconsin republican tom tiffany mouth closed
wisconsin republican tom tiffany mouth closed

What is Tom Tiffany Hiding? Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Skips Another Public Forum

Today marks the second time in as many weeks that Republican Tom Tiffany won’t bother to show up to a public forum for Wisconsin’s gubernatorial candidates