Marshfield Lawmaker Introduces Amendments to Republican Proposed Abortion Bill

Wednesday, January 24th, 2024 -- 12:01 PM

(Molly Beck and Jessie Opoien, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) Republican lawmakers voted on Tuesday to add exceptions for pregnancies that result from sexual assaults and incest to a bill that would ban abortions in Wisconsin after 14 weeks of pregnancy.

According to Molly Beck and Jessie Opoien with Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Rep. Donna Rozar, R-Marshfield, introduced amendments to the bill Tuesday that would add the exceptions and require doctors to "make reasonable efforts" to preserve the life of the fetus during medical emergencies.

Members of the Assembly health committee voted to accept them. The proposal addresses a major criticism of the bill from Democrats. During a public hearing on Monday, another bill author defended not including such exceptions.

Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, said she did not include exceptions for rape and incest because "a 14-week timeframe is a long enough timeframe to make a decision."

A spokeswoman for Evers said Friday he won't sign the proposal, which needs his support to head to voters on the April election ballot when voters will be turning out in higher numbers due to the Republican presidential primary.

Evers has said he does not support reducing access to abortion in Wisconsin, which is currently banned after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

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