Why women still need Governor Doyle to keep playing goalie for us

The state legislature focused on 16 bills to keep women from deciding their own reproductive future last year and the legislature isn't adjourned yet. Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin recently released the lowlights of the 16 and here they are:

AB 207 , the Patient Abandonment Bill, would allow health care providers to deny women birth control, infertility treatments, life-saving stem cell therapies, and abortion referrals--even when a woman’s life depends on it. Over 25 health care providers and organizations opposed the bill, with only Wisconsin Right to Life supporting it. Nonetheless, the bill was passed in the Assembly with a vote of 63-36 and in the Senate 21-12. In October, AB 207 was vetoed by Governor Doyle. No veto override vote has been attempted.

SB 138 , the Junk Science Bill, would require doctors to give all women contemplating an abortion medically incorrect information that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks gestation. SB 138 was opposed by every major medical organization in the state and is based on faulty assertions that are not supported in the scientific community. This bill, which passed the Senate with a vote of 21-12 and in the Assembly 62-35, was vetoed by Governor Doyle in January.

AB 175 , the Teen Endangerment Act, would endangered young women's lives and health by dangerously restricting the most vulnerable teens' access to abortion services, such as those who are abused, victims of rape or incest or in foster care. AB 175 was passed by the Assembly 62-35.

AB 343 , the UW Birth Control Ban, would ban the prescribing, dispensing or advertising of birth control on UW campuses was passed by the Assembly 53-45 in the early summer. No further action on this bill has occurred in the Senate.

SB 286 , the Irresponsible Sex Education Bill, would require that human growth and development curriculum teach abstinence as the preferred method of behavior for unmarried pupils. Planned Parenthood supported an amendment to the bill which would have added that information on contraceptive usage as methods to prevent pregnancy and STIs is are taught. SB 286, without the responsible sex education amendment, was passed by the Senate 24-9.

Want to know how your state representative voted on these bills? Go here.