Once Again, Scott Walker Trading Women’s Health for Political Gain

MADISON – While taking away Wisconsin workers’ opportunity to have a voice in workplace negotiations and writing a state budget that fails to enhance the economic and health security of women and families, Governor Walker on Tuesday promised to sign an abortion ban in Wisconsin. The law would criminalize all abortion after 20 weeks –intruding on the very complicated decision a woman might have to make in some exceptionally difficult medical situations. Tanya Atkinson, Executive Director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin issued the following statement in response:

“At Planned Parenthood, we strive every day to ensure that our patients receive high quality, compassionate, non-judgmental care. Abortion is a deeply personal and often complex decision for a woman. We know that in life’s most important moments, a woman should be able to make the best decision for her and her family based on her own unique circumstances without political interference.

“Not every pregnancy ends the way a family hopes it will. Abortion bans hurt women in their most vulnerable moments. Some pregnancies end in miscarriage, some create serious complications that threaten a woman’s health and life; and sometimes a woman finds out there is something seriously wrong. A pregnant woman experiencing complications that threaten her health or life or the viability of her pregnancy should be able to make the best medical decision for her and her family. Governor Walker’s abortion ban takes this woman’s decision away from her.

“Leading medical groups including the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association oppose political attempts to interfere with the doctor -patient relationship. Women and doctors — not politicians — should be making personal, medical decisions. Wisconsin should support and safeguard a woman’s health, not intrude into personal medical decisions that put a woman’s life and health at risk.

“We know that abortion is a complex issue and may make some of us uncomfortable, but one thing we can all agree on is that a woman’s medical safety is crucial and  these deeply personal decisions should be left to a woman in consultation with her physician, her family and her faith.”

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. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.