Scott Walker doubled down on his anti-choice agenda yesterday, saying he would support the 20 week abortion ban introduced by Republicans in the Wisconsin state legislature. Walker is in favor of extreme policies when it comes to a woman’s right to choose, opposing abortion even in cases of rape, incest or to protect the mother’s life. The governor also supports personhood which could restrict women’s access to birth control and hurts families trying to conceive through nontraditional methods like In Vitro fertilization.
Take a look at more of his extreme record below:
No Exceptions
WALKER OPPOSED ABORTION WITH NO EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE, INCEST, OR TO PROTECT THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER
PolitiFact: Walker Opposed Abortion Even In The Cases Of Rape, Incest, And Protecting The Life Of The Mother. According to PolitiFact, “In the race for governor, Democrat Tom Barrett said his opponent, Republican Scott Walker, “wants to make abortion illegal, even in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother.” Walker acknowledges that is his position. We rate Barrett’s claim True.” [PolitiFact, 10/26/10]
Tom Barrett Ad Claimed That “Scott Walker Wants To Make Abortion Illegal, Even In Cases Of Rape, Incest, Or To Protect The Life Of The Mother.” According to PolitiFact, “In a gubernatorial campaign largely centered on jobs and the job performance of the candidates, Democrat Tom Barrett has injected abortion into the debate, using a stark TV ad to take aim at his opponent, Republican Scott Walker. A couple identified as Lana and Mike appear on the screen. Mike says their teenage daughter was brutally raped. ‘You can’t imagine what she went through,’ he says. ‘That’s why politicians like Scott Walker make me so mad.’ The screen goes black. Then as Mike continues, the words he says also appear on the screen: ‘Scott Walker wants to make abortion illegal, even in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother.’” [PolitiFact, 10/26/10]
- Walker Spokeswoman Said That The Ad Was Accurate.According to PolitiFact, “We asked Jill Bader, Walker’s campaign spokeswoman, about Barrett’s ad and she said it accurately states Walker’s position.” [PolitiFact, 10/26/10]
Personhood
WALKER SUPPORTED SO-CALLED “PERSONHOOD” LEGISLATION
2015: Walker Emphasized His Early Support For Personhood
January 2015: Walker Emphasized His Early Support For Personhood Legislation In A Meeting With Republican Donors. According to The New York Times, “It was a memorable political ad: Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin spoke directly into the camera in a 30 second spot last fall and called abortion an ‘agonizing’ decision. He described himself as pro life but, borrowing the language of the abortion rights movement, pointed to legislation he signed that leaves ‘the final decision to a woman and her doctor.’ That language was gone when Mr. Walker met privately with Iowa Republicans in a hotel conference room last month, according to a person who attended the meeting. There, he highlighted his early support for a ‘personhood amendment,’ which defines life as beginning at conception and would effectively prohibit all abortions and some methods of birth control.” [New York Times, 2/23/15]
1998: Walker Co-Sponsored A Bill That Defined A Child As Beginning “From The Time Of Fertilization”
Walker Sponsored 1997 Wisconsin Senate Bill 131. [Wisconsin Legislature, 1997-1998]
- Wisconsin Senate Bill 131 Defined A Child As “A Human Being From The Time Of Fertilization Until It Is Completely Delivered From A Pregnant Woman” According to SB 131, “‘Child’ means a human being from the time of fertilization until it is completely delivered from a pregnant woman.” [SB 131, 1997]
Personhood Would Ban Some Types Of Birth Control And In-Vitro Fertilization
New York Times: Personhood Amendments “Would Essentially Deem Abortion And Some Types Of Birth Control Murder.” According to the New York Times, “The Democratic offensive is built around statements by Mr. Romney that some have linked to a proposed constitutional amendment in Mississippi, which among other things would effectively make illegal certain types of birth control. Under the measure, known as a ‘personhood’ amendment, a fertilized human egg would be declared to be a legal person. The amendment, which would essentially deem abortion and some types of birth control murder, represents perhaps the furthest front in the anti-abortion movement.” [New York Times, 11/3/11]
20 Week Ban
Walker Announced Support For A Ban On Abortions After 20-Weeks. According to The Weekly Standard, “In an open letter released on Tuesday, Wisconsin governor Scott Walker said he would sign legislation banning most abortions after the fifth month of pregnancy, the point after which infants can feel pain and survive if born prematurely. ‘As the Wisconsin legislature moves forward in the coming session, further protections for mother and child are likely to come to my desk in the form of a bill to prohibit abortions after 20 weeks. I will sign that bill when it gets to my desk and support similar legislation on the federal level,’ Walker wrote. ‘I was raised to believe in the sanctity of life and I will always fight to protect it.’” [Weekly Standard, 3/3/15]
Admitting Privileges
WALKER SIGNED LEGISLATION FORCING DOCTORS WHO PERFORM ABORTIONS TO HAVE ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL
2013: Walker Signed SB 205
July 5, 2013: Walker Signed SB 206, A Bill That Required Women Seeking Abortions To Undergo An Ultrasound And Banned Some Doctors From Performing Abortions. On July 5, 2013, Walker signed SB 206 which, according to Politico, was “a contentious Republican bill Friday that would require women seeking abortions to undergo an ultrasound and ban doctors who lack admitting privileges at nearby hospitals from performing the procedures.” [Politico, 7/5/13; Project Vote Smart, Viewed 6/9/14]
Bill Required Abortion Providers to Have Admitting Privileges
Bill Required Abortion Providers To Be Within 30 Miles Of A Hospital Where They Could Admit Patients. According to Politico, “Abortion providers would have to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles to perform the procedures. Supporters argue ultrasounds will help the woman bond with the fetus and convince her to save it. The admitting privileges requirement ensures a woman who suffers an abortion-related complication has an advocate who can explain what happened when she reaches a hospital, they say.” [Politico, 7/5/13]
Two Of Wisconsin’s Four Abortion Clinics Faced Closure
June 2014: Wisconsin Had Four Abortion Clinics. According to Slate, “Wisconsin is in court fighting to protect yet another hospital admitting privileges bill, one that’s expected to close one of the state’s four abortion clinics” [Slate, 6/4/14]
Two Wisconsin Clinics Faced Potential Closure As A Result Of The Bill: A Planned Parenthood Abortion Clinic In Appleton And The Affiliated Medical Services Abortion Clinic In Milwaukee. According to Politico, “Planned Parenthood and the ACLU allege the admitting privileges will force a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Appleton to close as well as the Affiliated Medical Services abortion clinic in Milwaukee to close. The physicians in both clinics lack local admitting privileges and don’t have time to secure any before the law takes effect, the lawsuit alleges.” [Politico, 7/5/13]
- The Affiliated Medical Services In Milwaukee Clinic Was Unable To Find A Hospital Willing To Work With Them.According to Talking Points Memo, “Although more than one provider originally sued to block Wisconsin’s admitting privileges law when it was first signed, by the time the court case actually began, only one clinic – Affiliated Medical Services in Milwaukee, Wisconsin – was still unable to get privileges.” [Talking Points Memo, 6/3/14]
- The Appleton Planned Parenthood Clinic Was Able To Find A Local Hospital Willing To Work With Them.According to Talking Points Memo, “The Planned Parenthood Clinic in Appleton, Wisconsin was able to find a local hospital willing to work with them, but as for AMS, the doctors received no answer.” [Talking Points Memo, 6/3/14]
March 2015: Federal Judge Struck Down Admitting Privilege Law
Federal Judge Struck Down Law Over Admitting Privileges. According to the Wall Street Journal, “federal judge has struck down a Wisconsin law requiring doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, dealing a fresh blow to such requirements, which face legal challenges in several states. U.S. District Judge William Conley, in a ruling released Friday, found the admitting requirements—passed in 2013 by the Wisconsin legislature and signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker—to be unconstitutional.” [Wall Street Journal, 3/22/15]
Medical Schools
1999 BILL TO BAN TEACHING ABORTION-RELATED TOPICS AT MEDICAL SCHOOLS
June 1999: Walker Sponsored An Amendment to The Budget That Prohibited Teaching Any Abortion-Related Topic Or Abortion Technique In Wisconsin’s Medical Schools. According to the Capital Times, “Teaching any abortion-related topic or abortion technique in Wisconsin’s medical schools would be prohibited by a measure to be added to the state budget by Assembly Republicans. […] The measure, sponsored by Rep. Scott Walker, R-Wauwatosa, also affects local, publicly owned clinics as well as school counselors and nurses who might discuss abortion with pregnant students.” [Capital Times, 6/24/99]
- Bill Would Also Ban School Nurses And Counselors From Recommending Abortions. According to the Associated Press, “The plan also would ban workers such as school nurses and counselors from recommending abortion.” [Associated Press, 6/26/99]
- No Amendment To 1999 Sponsored By Walker Was Voted On.According to the Wisconsin State Legislature no amendments by Walker were voted on for the 199 budget. [Wisconsin State Legislature, Accessed 3/16/15]
Planned Parenthood
2011: WALKER SAID HE WANTED TO ELIMINATE ALL FUNDING FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD, EXPLICITLY INCLUDING FUNDING THAT WAS USED FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH
Walker Said He Would “Make Sure” That Planned Parenthood “Didn’t Have Any Money, Not Just For Abortion, But Any Money For Anything.” According to The Post-Crescent, “Walker says Wisconsin would save almost $2 million annually by eliminating the Title V program – its money goes to help fund family planning centers like Planned Parenthood. Of course, while campaigning for governor, Walker told yet another conservative group that he was proud of ‘trying to defund Planned Parenthood and make sure they didn’t have any money, not just for abortion, but any money for anything.’” [The Post-Crescent, 5/26/11]
- Planned Parenthood Only Spent Three Percent Of Its Funds On Abortions; 16 Percent Was Spent On Cancer Prevention, 35 Percent On STD Testing, And 35 Percent On Contraceptives.According to the Washington Post, “As you can see in the chart atop this post, abortion services account for about 3 percent of Planned Parenthood’s activities. That’s less than cancer screening and prevention (16 percent), STD testing for both men and women (35 percent), and contraception (also 35 percent). About 80 percent of Planned Parenthood’s users are over age 20, and 75 percent have incomes below 150 percent of the poverty line. Planned Parenthood itself estimates it prevents more than 620,000 unintended pregnancies each year, and 220,000 abortions. It’s also worth noting that federal law already forbids Planned Parenthood from using the funds it receives from the government for abortions.” [Washington Post, 2/2/12]
2011 Budget Proposal Cut $1.9 Million From Family Planning Centers For Women’s Health; Walker Had Wanted To Eliminate Program Entirely
Walker Budget Proposal Cut $1.9 Million For Family Planning Facilities. According to The Stevens Point Journal, “Walker’s budget cuts $1.9 million in state grants that support family planning facilities. According to the budget proposal, Walker wants to eliminate the grant funding in order to ‘focus scarce resources on priority programs.’” [Stevens Point Journal, 3/26/11]
Final Budget Cut $1 Million From Planned Parenthood
$1 Million In Funding For Planned Parenthood Was Still Cut. According to the Capital Times, “This move cuts off about $1 million for Planned Parenthood but does not affect other family planning providers who are already prohibited under this program from making referrals for abortions. The panel also directed the Department of Health Services to request a waiver from the federal government to exclude men from the BadgerCare Family Planning program.” [The Capital Times, 5/25/11]
2013: WALKER CLAIMED THAT HE STOPPED FUNDING FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD
AUDIO AVAILABLE: Walker: “We Stopped Funding For Planned Parenthood.” In his book, unintimidated, Walker wrote, “In our 2011 budget, we stopped funding for Planned Parenthood. Instead, the state now contracts with less controversial organizations (like county governments) to promote health care for women. I also signed legislation prohibiting any health plan offered through an exchange operating in Wisconsin from covering abortion, and a bill that requires schools that teach sex education to stress abstinence as the only reliable way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. At any other time, these might have been huge fights— but because of the fight over Act 10, they received little notice.” [Unintimidated, 11/19/13 p. 216 Kindle edition]
Transvaginal Ultrasounds
WALKER SIGNED A BILL THAT REQUIRED SOME WOMEN TO UNDERGO TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASOUNDS
2013: Walker Signed SB 205, Legislation Requiring All Women Undergo An Ultrasound Prior To Terminating A Pregnancy
July 5, 2013: Walker Signed SB 206, A Bill That Required Women Seeking Abortions To Undergo An Ultrasound And Banned Some Doctors From Performing Abortions. On July 5, 2013, Walker signed SB 206 which, according to Politico, was “a contentious Republican bill Friday that would require women seeking abortions to undergo an ultrasound and ban doctors who lack admitting privileges at nearby hospitals from performing the procedures.” [Politico, 7/5/13; Project Vote Smart, Viewed 6/9/14]
Walker Signed The Bill That Required Women Seeking An Abortion To Undergo An Ultrasound And Barring Doctors Without Admitting Privileges At Local Hospitals From Performing Abortions. According to CBS News, “Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wis., took a deep dive into the divisive politics of abortion on Friday, signing a bill that would require women seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound and barring doctors without admitting privileges at local hospitals from performing abortions.” [CBS News, 7/6/13]
THE REQUIREMENT EFFECTIVELY FORCES WOMEN UP UNTIL AT LEAST THE 12TH WEEK OF PREGNANCY TO UNDERGO A TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASOUND
PolitiFact: “The New Requirement, As A Practical Matter, Means Some Women Have To Get A Transvaginal Ultrasound.” According to PolitiFact, “In a TV ad, EMILY’s List said Walker is ‘forcing some women to undergo a transvaginal probe to get an abortion,’ while an image on the screen said Walker ‘endorses mandating transvaginal ultrasounds.’ The law doesn’t mandate transvaginal ultrasounds, rather it says the woman seeking an abortion can choose either a transvaginal or transabdominal ultrasound. But medical professionals say that the new requirement, as a practical matter, means some women have to get a transvaginal ultrasound. For a statement that is partially accurate but leaves out important information, our rating is Half True.” [PolitiFact, 10/24/14]
The Ultrasounds Needed To Be Performed Vaginally Until At Least The 12th Week Of Pregnancy In Order For The Image Of The Uterus Not To Be Obstructed By The Pelvic Bone. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, “This is considered extremely invasive, as an ultrasound often needs to be performed vaginally until at least the 12th week of pregnancy in order for the image of the uterus not to be obstructed by the pelvic bone.” [Wisconsin State Journal, 7/3/13]
Published: May 8, 2015