Rep. Andre Jacque
The Wisconsin Assembly has passed funding restrictions on Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. The bill (AB 310) prevents Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin from accessing about $3.5 million in annual funding under the federal Title X program.
“Those funds should be going to our county and local health departments, things like the Wisconsin Well Woman program where we have breast and cervical screenings, things that are very fundable under Title X,” said the bill’s author, Representative Andre Jacque (R-DePere).
The bill would prohibit the state from passing on any of the federal funding to abortion providers or those making abortion referrals. “None of these facilities provide abortions. What they do provide is lifesaving care to women,” said Representative Chris Taylor (D-Madison).
Planned Parenthood is the only provider receiving the money. Jacque said the state is in a better position to make decisions about how its distributed, but Democrats argue there’s no infrastructure in place to provide many services, particularly in rural areas.
Representative Deb Kolste (D-Janesville) said the measure undermines the process that has been in place for 40 years in Wisconsin. “There has been an infrastructure in place to take care of these patients, and I don’t see how create that access, because it isn’t in place now,” Kolste said.
The bill passed on a 60-35 vote and now heads to the Senate.