Political Updates
11 March 2008 Governor Doyle to sign Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Bill into law Governor Jim Doyle will soon sign the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Bill into law. This law will require emergency room personnel to give information about emergency contraception to all victims of sexual assault, and dispense it if desired. Emergency contraception greatly reduces the risk of unintended pregnancy, thereby reducing the need for abortion. It is legal, safe, and available for over the counter purchase for women over 18. However, in a survey from 2002, it was found that less than 1/3 of Wisconsin hospitals had this contraception stocked. In 2002, a survey found that 300,000 women were raped each year, resulting in 25,000 unwanted pregnancies. 16,000 of these unintended pregnancies ended in abortion. With the effectiveness of emergency contraception, 22,000 (88%) of the pregnancies and the resulting abortions could be prevented if all sexual assault survivors used emergency contraception. Though it took women's health groups and pro-choice politicians five years to find the necessary support for the bill, it seems many organizations and the general public have long supported this legislation. The American Medical Association advocates provision of information and access to emergency contraception to rape victims. A bi-partisan survey of Wisconsin voters in 2004 showed that 82% of voters were in support of guaranteeing emergency contraception access to rape and incest victims. This session, a bi-partisan effort in both the state Assembly and Senate has ensured that this bill will become law. As a result, the views of both the medical community and Wisconsin citizens will finally be represented by state law. Click here to learn more details about the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Bill 28 February 2008 Assembly to Wisconsin Women: "Your Health Does Not Matter" State Assembly Passes State version of Federal Abortion Ban In a 59-38 vote, the Wisconsin State Assembly passed an unnecessary ban on certain methods of abortion that doctors say are the safest for women with some rare, dangerous health conditions. The Federal Abortion Ban is in force in Wisconsin and across the nation, so those methods are already illegal. The state version increases penalties for doctors and gives license to any local prosecutor to invade women's private medical records, interrogate women following miscarriages, and threaten or intimidate health care providers and patients. By passing this bill, the Assembly's anti-choice forces have made it clear that they do not care about women's health - they don't care if a woman facing a dangerous pregnancy is put at risk, that her health or future fertility may be in jeopardy. This bill will not stop a single abortion. It merely demonstrates the lack of compassion some politicians have for women and their families who are already coping with the tragedy of a pregnancy gone terribly wrong, or an emergency medical condition. 27 February 2008 Women's Health & Safety Act Senate Hearing The Senate Health Committee hearing testimony on SB 398, the Women's Health and Safety Act. The bill seeks to repeal Wisconsin's statue 940.04 (the Criminal Abortion Ban) which, if Roe v. Wade is overturned, would outlaw nearly all forms of abortion in Wisconsin. Moreover, the law includes a penalty of up to 15 years in prison for doctors who perform abortions and women could receive up to 3.5 years in prison for having an abortion or performing an abortion on herself. The law is currently unenforceable as the federal Supreme Court ruling Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in all fifty states 35 years ago. However, if Roe fell, the Criminal Abortion Ban would immediately go into effect; local district attorneys could prosecute both women and doctors involved in the now-illegal procedure. Throughout the hearing, pro-choice advocates kept their testimonies to the point, focusing on the antiquated law passed in the 1840's and the important of repealing. The anti-choice speakers often focused on graphic imagery and rare circumstantial cases that were off topic and had little to do with the legislation at hand. | 
