A proposed amendment to the state constitution would confer personhood on a fertilized egg. State Representative Andre Jacque says the amendment will correct an existing loophole — namely that one most be born in order to gain rights outlined in the constitution. “A prohibition on abortion through statutory means alone is not sufficient,” says the Green Bay Republican. A future activist state supreme court could find some sort of constitutional right to abortion that could overturn the law that is currently on the books and would take effect, when Roe v. Wade is overturned.”
AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:60)
Nicole Safer of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin argues the amendment would directly impact abortion rights. “It would make abortion illegal in every scenario,” she says. “And it also would make many forms of birth control illegal. I think those are two positions that Wisconsin does not agree with. From the polling that we’ve done, even a majority of Republicans do not agree with making abortion illegal.”
Constitutional amendments must pass two consecutive sessions of the legislature before going to a statewide referendum. A similar measure was recently rejected by voters in Mississippi.
