Scorecard Shows Women’s Health Care Making Gains
NPCW Scorecard released today, only one anti-choice bill introduced in session Madison, WI – NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin released its annual Legislative Scorecard today, highlighting the first pro-choice bill to pass the Wisconsin legislature in a decade and exposing the extreme, anti-birth control agenda of many legislators. The scorecard also shows only one anti-choice bill was introduced in this session, much less than previous years. “The passage of the Compassionate Care bill was an important and exciting moment for sexual assault survivors and advocates,” said Political Director Carmen Marg-Patton. “We have worked for seven years to ensure rape victims in Wisconsin have every opportunity to prevent pregnancy after an assault.” The Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Bill, commonsense legislation which requires all Wisconsin hospitals to give rape victims information about and access to emergency contraception, passed this spring with overwhelming bipartisan support in both houses. The Scorecard reveals the depth of the anti-women’s health and anti-choice agenda in the legislature and the extent of the anti-privacy and anti-birth control voting record for many legislators. Just under half of legislators received Ds or Fs for their lifetime voting record – many whom voted against the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Bill, voted to allow pharmacists to deny birth control to women and voted against legislation that would have ensured rape victims are never threatened with prison for having an abortion. “In addition to the Compassionate Care victory, we’re excited but not satisfied that the number of legislators receiving a D or F decreased by 19 since last year’s scorecard was released,” said Marg-Patton. “And only one anti-choice bill was introduced during the 2007-08 legislative session, an abrupt change from recent sessions.” “For the first time in many years, anti-choice legislators were forced to be on the defensive while pro-choice leaders introduced commonsense legislation,” said Marg-Patton. “Positive legislation to ensure the full range of reproductive options for Wisconsin women continues to gain support, including comprehensive sex education, greater access to birth control and freedom from harassment when breastfeeding in public.” Visit http://www.prochoicewisconsin.org/ to view NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin’s 2007-08 Scorecard. ###
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