Last night, the State Senate completed the legislature’s work on the state budget and kept intact two important life-affirming provisions promoted by Wisconsin Right to Life. The budget now goes to the Governor for his signature.
One of the budget provisions prohibits the University of Wisconsin (UW) Hospitals and Clinics Authority Board from paying physicians or surgeons or a hospital, clinic or other medical facility for the performance of an abortion except as specified in Wisconsin’s current abortion-funding law.
“Wisconsin Right to Life is deeply appreciative to the legislature for insuring that no UW funds will be used for the performance of abortions in any UW facility,” said Susan Armacost, Legislative Director of Wisconsin Right to Life. “We remember only too well the brazen attempts of UW a couple of years ago to set up a late-term abortion facility at the Madison Surgery Center.”
Armacost continued, “It was only because of a huge outcry by the public and many employees of the Madison Surgery Center that UW finally backed down and nixed the deadly project. In spite of the lobbying against the budget provision by UW, the legislature made sure that UW will no longer be able to plot behind the scenes to find ways to use taxpayer dollars to pay doctors and facilities to perform abortions.”
The other provision directs federal Title V family planning dollars to public health agencies and prohibits them from giving the funds to organizations or its affiliates that provide abortions or abortion referrals.
“Wisconsin Right to Life deeply appreciates State Senate action last night that reaffirmed earlier Assembly action to prohibit Title V taxpayer dollars from going to organizations that perform abortions,” stated Barbara Lyons, Executive Director of Wisconsin Right to Life.
“Both of these important budget provisions will protect the lives of babies and will protect Wisconsin taxpayers from having to pay for many abortions in our state,” continued Lyons.