Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin
Press Release

Walker Administration Will Stop at Nothing to Block Access to Safe, Legal Abortion

Wisconsin Attorney General Schimel petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the state’s twice enjoined law requiring physicians providing abortion care to obtain hospital admitting privileges.

By - Mar 21st, 2016 07:31 pm

MADISON – On Tuesday, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the state’s twice enjoined law requiring physicians providing abortion care to obtain hospital admitting privileges. Gov. Scott Walker’s administration authorized the continued taxpayer supported litigation despite conclusive federal court findings that Walker’s law restricting abortion was clearly designed to close down abortion clinics, had nothing to do with women’s health and was a “clear flouting of Roe vs. Wade.”

“The Attorney General’s latest action proves just how far Gov. Scott Walker’s administration is willing to go to prevent women from accessing safe, legal abortion care,” said Tanya Atkinson, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin. “The state has twice appealed rulings enjoining this restriction and in the process, has expended tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars. This irresponsible action shows just how much elections matter. We need to work together to elect leaders who trust women to make their own health care decisions and won’t use state resources to fund their ideological agendas.”

The law was found unconstitutional most recently last November by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. In that ruling, the panel found that the law was designed to close down abortion clinics and had nothing to do women’s health.

“At Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, our number one priority is the health and safety of our patients,” said Atkinson. “Multiple judges have ruled and the medical community agrees that an admitting privileges requirement does not enhance safety and is intended to put obstacles in the path of women seeking abortion.”

Schimel’s filing comes after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt on March 2. That case involves an extremely restrictive and unnecessary Texas law aimed at abortion providers that is similar to Wisconsin’s admitting privileges mandate.

“For 80 years, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has been providing high-quality, nonjudgmental health care,” said Atkinson. “We will continue to fight to make sure the people in our state have access to the health care they deserve – including safe and legal abortion – no matter what.”

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin is the advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. PPAWI engages in legislative and educational activity and works to elect candidates to office that support these goals.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

Leave a Reply

You must be an Urban Milwaukee member to leave a comment. Membership, which includes a host of perks, including an ad-free website, tickets to marquee events like Summerfest, the Wisconsin State Fair and the Florentine Opera, a better photo browser and access to members-only, behind-the-scenes tours, starts at $9/month. Learn more.

Join now and cancel anytime.

If you are an existing member, sign-in to leave a comment.

Have questions? Need to report an error? Contact Us