MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) — Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin will resume providing abortions next week.
The announcement was made Thursday by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin President and CEO Tanya Atkinson.
“A ruling by the Dane County Circuit Court in July made it clear that the 1849 law is not enforceable for voluntary abortions,” said Atkinson. “This Monday, September 18, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin will resume abortion care at our Water Street Health Center in Milwaukee and in Madison at our Madison East Health Center.”
Atkinson said Planned Parenthood Wisconsin is confident in the decision after consulting with attorneys and doctors.
The action comes as a legal challenge to the state’s 1849 law prohibiting nearly all abortions except when necessary to save the life of the mother is expected to be heard by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, where liberal justices now hold the majority.
Wisconsin Republicans introduced a bill back in March that aimed to add rape and incest exceptions for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy to the 1849 law, which was widely scrutinized by their counterparts, including Gov. Tony Evers, who stated, “I won’t sign a bill that leaves Wisconsin women with fewer rights and freedoms than they had before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe.”
According to the AP, before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, Wisconsin law allowed for abortions for any reason at 20 or more weeks post-fertilization, or 22 weeks after the last menstrual cycle.
Democrats have not signaled if there is any term limit to abortion they would support or what kind of law would replace the 1849 ban if the state supreme court were to overturn it.
