Wisconsin Legislators React To SCOTUS Overturning Roe v. Wade

The Supreme Court has overturned its 49-year-old landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion throughout the US, upholding a Mississippi law banning the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy – and leaving the issue up to each of the 50 states. The opinion by Justice Samuel Alito for a 6-3 court also overturned a 1992 case, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, in which the court found that state laws restricting abortion should not impose an “undue burden” on women seeking the procedure.

Below are statements from Wisconsin legislators and politicians.

Sen. Bewley

Madison, WI – “Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision is heartbreaking, but unfortunately expected. The conservatives on the Supreme Court have overturned 50 years of precedent. For years they complained about judicial activism, well now we know it was nothing but a smokescreen to get to their desired results, results that are opposed by the overwhelming majority of this nation’s citizens. A sad day, and a harbinger of what might be in store in the future. What is next? The right to marry? The right to contraceptives?”

Sen. Baldwin

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin issued the following statement today in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

“An activist majority of the Supreme Court has overturned Roe and nearly 50 years of precedent, taking away the constitutional rights of American women to make their own personal choices about their body, their health, and their family. Republicans have taken Wisconsin women back to 1849 and it is Republicans who want to keep us there with support for having politicians interfere in the freedoms of women who will now have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers have had for decades. I ask people to join this fight with their voices and their votes because we will not be taken back, we will move forward.”

Gov. Tony Evers

MADISON -- Gov. Tony Evers today released the following statement in response to a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey and ruling the U.S. Constitution confers no right to an abortion. The decision upends a constitutional right to abortion that Wisconsinites and Americans have relied upon for nearly 50 years. The decision today comes as on Wednesday this week, the Wisconsin State Legislature rejected Gov. Evers’ effort to repeal Wisconsin’s pre-Roe criminal abortion ban.

“This is an unfathomably grim day for our state and our country. I am heartbroken—for the millions of Wisconsinites and Americans the U.S. Supreme Court has abandoned and for our country and our democratic institutions. This is an absolutely disastrous and unconscionable decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, the consequences of which I hoped to never see again in my lifetime. I know many across our state and nation are scared—worried about their own health and about the health and safety of their family members, friends, and neighbors, who could very soon see the ability to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions stripped from them. My heart breaks for them, I grieve for them, and I pray for their strength and courage in the days ahead.

“Our work to do the right thing for the people of this state must continue. We will fight this decision in every way we can with every power we have. As people in Wisconsin and across our country make their voices heard in the days and months ahead, we will do so peacefully and without violence. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again today: I will never stop fighting to make sure that every single Wisconsinite has the right to consult their family, their faith, and their doctor to make the reproductive healthcare decision that is right for them, and without interference from politicians or members of the Supreme Court who don’t know anything about their life circumstances, values, or responsibilities.”

U.S. Rep Moore

“This is a terrifying day, because the Supreme Court has turned its back on precedent to roll back individual rights and liberties. Today’s ruling is not only the end of the federal right for women to have control over their bodies, but also demonstrates the Court is very likely to take away other personal liberties from Americans. This decision has made the lives of women and girls more tenuous, dangerous, and restricted.

If you don’t care about abortion, you should! This decision goes beyond reproductive rights – it’s about the personal freedoms now at risk because of a partisan, extremist Supreme Court.

When people start talking about taking their country back, they must be talking about this day – because this is that moment when the country is taking us back in time to not only when abortion was banned, but gay marriage was illegal, and interracial marriage was outlawed.

Though this is a hard day, it’s not over! I will keep getting up each day to safeguard our other liberties and restore this vital right to every woman.”

U.S. Sen. Johnson

WASHINGTON -- On Friday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization:

“Today is a victory for life and for those who have fought for decades to protect the unborn. For almost fifty years the decision of nine unelected Justices have prevented a democratically derived consensus on the profound moral issue of abortion to be formed. This decision will now allow that democratic process to unfold in each state to determine at what point does society have the responsibility to protect life. Hopefully, the debate will be conducted with sincerity, compassion, and respect for the broad range of views that people hold.”

State Sen. Vos

Madison…Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court of the United States decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

“Safeguarding the lives of unborn children shouldn’t be controversial. Today’s decision reaffirms their lives are precious and worthy of protection.

“I agree with the justices in their opinion when they say, ‘The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.’

“I urge those who disagree with the decision to remain peaceful.”

U.S. Rep. Kind

Washington, DC -- Today, Rep. Ron Kind released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade:

“For nearly half a century, women have been able to make personal decisions about their reproductive health, their lives, and their futures without interference from the government. Removing this fundamental right will have devastating consequences for women and families across the nation. Today’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade means that millions of women will be living with fewer freedoms than their mothers and grandmothers, and puts every American’s right to privacy on shaky ground. We can’t go backwards. Last year I voted to codify Roe v. Wade and the Senate must act with urgency to do the same.”

U.S. Rep. Tiffany

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.

“Today’s landmark ruling is a historic victory for human rights,” said Congressman Tiffany. “This decision paves the way for us to protect all life.”

U.S. Rep. Fitzgerald

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its decision on the landmark case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This decision eliminates the egregious precedent set by cases Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood and puts decision this decision back in the hands of the American people, not dictated by unelected judges.

“The decision is a major victory for the pro-life movement and the unborn. Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided, and the court rightfully disposed of the egregious precedent it set,” said Congressman Fitzgerald. “We have fought long and hard to protect the right to life of those who cannot defend themselves. Today, that work has paid off, but now we must begin working to ensure life is protected at the state and national level.”

U.S. State Sen. Roys

MADISON, WI -- “Five conservative extremists have traded the US Supreme Court’s legitimacy and the legal personhood of women for their own selfish crusade to impose their narrow religious views on an unwilling nation. Despite some four out of five Americans wanting abortion to remain safe and legal, five Justices have voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, rendering abortion illegal or unavailable in about half the states, including Wisconsin.

Wisconsinites now face a difficult road to accessing abortion, with an 1849 criminal abortion ban still on the books, along with many restrictions and regulations on abortion been passed over the last 50 years. Because of the legal uncertainty, many physicians will not risk felony charges and years in prison to continue providing abortion care. States where abortion remains legal will be overwhelmed with demand, so it will be challenging even for those with the means to travel. To change this, we must have political leaders who support the right to choose and who will work to restore our legal rights, at every level of government.

That said, Wisconsinites can safely and legally self-manage abortions now and in the future. Medication abortion is safe, easy to use, and private – every person of reproductive age should order one now at AidAccess.org. It costs about $100 and takes approximately 4 weeks to arrive, so it’s important to order now before you need it, since it must be taken in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy for maximum effectiveness. There are currently NO legal penalties for people who self-manage abortion – despite the efforts of GOP politicians.

When abortion is illegal, women die. Millions of people’s lives will be made worse by these five right-wing justices, and our nation as a whole is less fair, less healthy, and less free as a result of today’s lawless and unjust decision. I will continue to fight for reproductive freedom and justice for everyone. Being able to control our own bodies and our own reproduction is not just a constitutional imperative but a fundamental human right that no judge or politician can erase.”

Senator Devin LeMahieu

MADISON, WI -- Today, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court of the United States decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization which returns representative lawmaking authority to the states:

“This is a massive victory for the sanctity of life in our Nation,” said Leader LeMahieu. “The Supreme Court’s long-awaited decision restores lawmaking authority to the states and finally gives Wisconsin voters a voice in how they want to protect the most vulnerable.”

“The surge of violence and on-going threats by pro-abortion extremists will not intimidate or deter us from upholding every individual’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” said Leader LeMahieu.