Aiexpress – Vice President Kamala Harris expressed strong opposition to a proposal by Wisconsin Republicans to shorten the timeframe for legal abortions in the state by six weeks. She criticized the authors of the bill as “extremists” and took a swipe at former President Donald Trump.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Harris expressed her concerns about the new abortion ban introduced by extremists in Wisconsin. She highlighted the continuous assault on reproductive freedoms and the impact it has had on women in the state. Harris stated that since Donald Trump’s actions, which opened the door to potentially overturning Roe v. Wade, women in Wisconsin have been living in a state of chaos and uncertainty.
Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly have recently presented a bill that aims to prohibit abortions after 14 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions only in cases where the mother’s life or health is at risk. However, in order for this policy to be implemented, it would need to be approved by voters through a ballot measure. Despite these efforts, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has made it clear that he intends to veto the bill, effectively preventing it from becoming law.
Vice President Harris is set to visit Waukesha on Monday to commemorate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the historic abortion decision that was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022. During her visit, she will shed light on the adverse effects of extreme abortion restrictions and share personal stories of individuals affected by these bans in Wisconsin and nationwide.
Republicans have scheduled a public hearing on their new abortion bill to coincide with Harris’ visit.
In a statement released by her campaign, Harris issued a warning about Trump, the leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination. She cautioned that if elected in November, Trump would make efforts to severely restrict access to abortion services in all states across the nation.
“Let me be clear: President Biden and I are committed to tirelessly advocating for the protection of Wisconsin women and women all across our nation, ensuring that they can have peace of mind when it comes to their essential reproductive rights,” emphasized Harris.
According to a statement from a Trump campaign spokesperson to the Journal Sentinel, Trump is gaining support among women voters.
In a significant turn of events, the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in the previous year brought back to life an old state law from the 19th century that prohibited abortions in Wisconsin under all circumstances except when the mother’s life was at stake. However, a Dane County judge challenged the applicability of this law in December and concluded that it did not cover consensual abortions.
Abortions were halted for a duration of 15 months between the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court and the ruling made in Dane County.
Abortion continues to be a politically relevant topic in Wisconsin, a state that holds significant importance in the upcoming November election.
In 2022, Democrats were successful in two out of the last three major statewide races by focusing their campaigns heavily on the issue of abortion. They managed to reelect Evers as governor and also gained control of the state Supreme Court, marking the first time in 15 years that liberals have held power in the court.
