Pro-Life Wisconsin Opposes AB 304 & SB 286

PRO-LIFE WISCONSIN OPPOSES AB 304 & SB 286

By Matt Sande, Pro-Life Wisconsin Legislative Director

On Thursday, November 7th, the Wisconsin Assembly passed Assembly Bill (AB) 304 in an 82-13 bipartisan vote. The legislation was introduced by over 40 Republican state legislators in a misguided attempt to reduce unplanned pregnancies. Authored by State Representatives Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) and Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma), the bill permits pharmacists to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptive patches (the Patch) and self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives (the Pill) to persons 18 years of age and older. Currently, the Pill and the Patch may only be prescribed by a physician. Assembly Bill 304 then moved on to the Wisconsin Senate.

On November 20th, the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services held a public hearing on Senate Bill 286, authored by Senator Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls). Senate Bill (SB) 286 is the companion bill to Assembly Bill (AB) 304. Pro-Life Wisconsin’s Legislative Director Matt Sande testified before the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services in opposition to Senate Bill (SB) 286. Please watch Matt Sande’s public testimony on SB 286 on WisconsinEye HERE starting at 3 hours 40 minutes and 30 seconds (3:40:30) or read his public testimony HERE.

Pro-Life Wisconsin OPPOSES any legislation that makes hormonal contraceptives more easily accessible or widely available.

AB 304/SB 286 is bad legislation for several reasons:

  • Attempting to lower unplanned pregnancies by making contraceptives more easily accessible simply doesn’t work. A significant percentage of unintended pregnancies are in women using contraceptives, generally over 40% and in some studies up to 68%.

  • Hormonal contraceptives can cause pre-implantation chemical abortions by altering the lining of the uterus (endometrium) so that a newly conceived child (human embryo) is unable to implant in the womb, thus starving and dying.

  • Hormonal contraceptives have been proven dangerous to women’s health. The Pill is a known Group 1 carcinogen for breast, cervical and liver cancers according to the UN’s International Agency on Research of Cancer. It is not the proper role of pharmacists to diagnose health conditions and prescribe powerful medications with clear health risks.

ACT NOW!

With your help, Pro-Life Wisconsin will continue to lead the fight against AB 304 and SB 286 in the Wisconsin Senate. We MUST stop this legislation in the Senate! If the Senate passes AB 304/SB 286, Governor Evers will surely sign the bill into law.

  • Please CALL or EMAIL your state senator TODAY and urge him/her to “Oppose AB 304 & SB 286.” Tell him/her, “Hormonal contraceptives can kill embryonic children, are dangerous to women’s health, and do not reduce unplanned pregnancies!”

  • Don’t know your state senator? Go to legis.wisconsin.gov and type in your home address under “Who Are My Legislators” or call the Legislative Hotline: 1-800-362-9472.

Thank you for making your pro-life voices heard in the Wisconsin Senate!

*Additional Testimonies in opposition to Senate Bill (SB) 286:

Elizabeth Anderson, MD, Assistant State Director of the Wisconsin Catholic Medical Guilds
(starting at 3 hours 56 minutes and 50 seconds (3:56:50).)

Tobey Neuberger of Cedarburg, Pro-Life Wisconsin supporter/activist and mother of six
(starting at 4 hours 41 minutes and 38 seconds (4:41:38))

*Julaine Appling of Wisconsin Family Action and Kim Vercauteren of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference also testified against SB 286.