Rep Nedweski Previews Abortion Referendum

last month the Dane County Judge ruled that the 1849 law does not actually apply to consensual abortions it only applies to fetocide defined as the intentional killing of a pre-born child without the mother's consent as a result of this decision elective abortions are currently being performed in Wisconsin under the 2015 law which allows abortions to a post fertilization age of not more than 20 weeks the fact is that consensual abortions up to 20 weeks are legal in Wisconsin today they are being legally performed in Milwaukee Madison and Shaban despite disappointing efforts of some pro-life organizations to mischaracterize AB 975 the truth is that as of right now there is no 1849 abortion ban in effect that is the sad reality assembly Bill 975 is nothing more than a proposal to ask the voters of Wisconsin a question should the current law allowing abortions up to the up to 20 weeks be changed to 14 weeks 43 States 43 out of 50 states prohibit abortions after a point in time in pregnancy most European countries also limit abortions to the first trimester allowing abortion well into the second trimester is rare throughout the US and the rest of the Civilized world we are here to ask the people of Wisconsin if they agree the proposed ballot question in AB 975 is responsive to standards that public opinion has deemed normal in many other states whether we like that or not moving from 20 weeks to 14 weeks could save hundreds of lives we continue to support extended access to birth control and the funding of Pregnancy Resource Centers to help women in crisis we have added exceptions for rape and incest Beyond 14 weeks to AB 975 today we have listened to the people and we have done what they asked the current majority on our state's highest court have already usurped the Constitutional authority of the people's duly elected representatives in other cases the people should be deciding on abortion not the court AB 975 gives the people a voice why would anyone not want to hear directly from the people as we heard from our colleagues across the aisle yesterday the will of the people is the law of the land it's about time we heard from the people on abortion put the question on the ballot a vote against AB 975 is a vote against the will of the people