The Associated Press reported that Wisconsin Republicans are poised to pass a bill that calls for a binding referendum or vote.
First lady Jilly biden, U.S. President Joe Biden, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Second gentleman Douglas Emhoff join hands as they depart a ”Reproductive Freedom Campaign Rally" at George Mason University on January 23, 2024 in Manassas, Virginia. During the first joint rally held by the President and Vice President, Biden and Kamala Harris spoke on what they perceive as a threat to reproductive rights.
The bill aims to ban abortions 14 weeks after pregnancy. The state currently prohibits abortions after 20 weeks and supporters of the bill have said that by closing this window more fetuses could be saved. The proposal would plant seeds for a statewide election in April that would ask the voters whether this should take effect. The 14-week deadline did not include cases of rape or incest. If approved this prohibition would take effect a day after the results have been certified.
Republican Representative Amanda Nedweski, the bill's chief Assembly sponsor, stated, "A vote against (the bill) is a vote against the will of the people". Nedweski's statement was at a news conference before the floor session started. The approval of the bill would send it over to the Senate but it's unclear if the bill could get past that hurdle. Republican Majority Leader, Devin LeMahieu, that it would be difficult for his conclave to work together on an abortion bill that the Democratic Governor Tony Evers would simply veto anyway if it landed on his desk. Evers has often gone on record saying that he won't sign a bill that limits reproductive health care.
This is following New Hampshire's recent push to weave abortion rights into its constitution which the states of Ohio, Michigan, Vermont, and California have already done. It is unclear whether this proposal would be approved as it has faced some heavy backlash as some critics believe that the people of New Hampshire should have the final say. However, it is clear that the back-and-forth on reproductive rights will continue and will vary with each state.
HNGN also reported that the proposal has been facing some backlash but amendment supporters have agreed that the people of Maine should have the final say. For example, Lisa Kushner stated the following "Personal reproductive decisions have no place in state legislatures. Our elected representatives should never be orchestrating constituents' reproductive lives. Mainers deserve a right to vote and settle this issue." But this has not stopped some from being critical. One such critic is Republican Senator Lisa Keim representing Dixfield has stated "There's no way it's going to pass. They shouldn't be putting this political theater on stage again."
