WASHINGTON – On Monday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) released the following statement on Wisconsin Republicans’ introduction of Assembly Bill 975 which would protect the life of an unborn child after 14 weeks.

“The bill co-authored by Senator Mary Felzkowski and Representative Amanda Nedweski, while different from the referendum I suggested, fully aligns with the primary goal of allowing ‘we the people’ to decide: ‘at what point does society have the responsibility to protect the life of an unborn child?’

“This bill is based on a number of surveys, polls, and laws existing in other states and countries which indicate that a consensus is forming around protecting life after 14 weeks. The fact that 86% of abortions performed in Wisconsin occur before weeks 13-15 of gestation is further evidence of this growing consensus. 

“If signed into law, the bill would only take effect if it also receives a majority of votes in a statewide, binding referendum. In other words, the voters of Wisconsin will decide. The bill acknowledges that a mother can decide to end her pregnancy up to a certain point, but after 14 weeks, the rights of an unborn child take precedence unless the life of the mother is at risk.

“The extreme position on abortion is backed by Democrats who have supported measures that allow abortion up to the moment of birth. What the bill is proposing will allow the voters of Wisconsin to decide what a reasonable solution is to this profound moral issue.”

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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