Wisconsin lawmakers launch push for abortion ban
by Mark Pitsch ¦ The Wisconsin Journal ¦ 20 December 2007 A bipartisan group of Wisconsin lawmakers today began a push for a ban on partial-birth abortions that they believe will withstand court scrutiny.
Wisconsin's 1998 law on the procedure was ruled unconstitutional in 2000 by the U.S. Supreme Court. Earlier this year Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said the state law was not enforceable.
But the lawmakers say their new bill mirrors the language of a federal law banning partial-birth abortion that was upheld by the federal high court in 2003.
"We're not reinventing the wheel here," said Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau. "I think the bill is solid."
Fitzgerald and Reps. Jim Ott, R-Mequon, and Tony Staskunas, D-West Allis, plan to send a letter to lawmakers today asking them to co-sponsor the bill.
The 1998 law passed when the Senate was controlled by Democrats and the Assembly was controlled by Republicans. Tommy Thompson, a Republican, was governor.
But it's unclear whether the new bill will pass the Legislature.
Messages left with the spokespersons for Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, and Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Schofield, weren't immediately returned.
Party control of the Legislature is the same as in 1998, but the governor, Jim Doyle, is a Democrat. As state attorney general, Doyle defended the law when it was challenged in court.
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