Senate chamber
The Wisconsin state Senate will vote Tuesday on controversial legislation to ban abortions after 20 weeks into a pregnancy. The floor debate follows last week’s approved of the measure on a 3-2 party line vote in the Senate health committee.
Proponents of the legislation from state Senator Mary Lazich (R-Berlin) contend that it’s necessary in order to prevent fetuses from feeling pain, which they argue is possible after 20 weeks. Opponents, including a long list of medical professionals who testified against the bill during a day long public hearing last week, argued that it’s not possible for a fetus to feel pain until after 27 weeks into a pregnancy.
Even if the measure passes the Senate, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) has said he doesn’t know when the bill would be taken up in that chamber. Governor Scott Walker has said he would sign the bill if it’s passed by lawmakers.