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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Last week, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin became the first state chapter to announce that abortion services will be paused as a result of President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”
The tax and spending bill cuts off federal Medicaid funding to the national nonprofit.
“I understand that a lot of people think of abortion from a political lens,” says Dr. Kristin Lyerly, a practicing OB-GYN and a former Wisconsin congressional candidate. “They see it as harming babies, harming moms. But the truth is exactly the opposite. Abortion is fundamental health care. Abortion saves lives. In states with abortion bans, moms are almost three times more likely to die from their pregnancies, and infants are more likely to die. We know that abortion bans kill moms and babies.”
Lyerly says the abortion pause in Wisconsin will be devastating to patients, especially those who are unable to travel to neighboring states like Illinois or Minnesota.
In response to the news, Illinois officials held a press conference announcing they’re getting ready for an increase in patients crossing state lines.
“Together, we are preparing to face the fallout from a backdoor abortion ban implemented by the President of the United States — a ban that once again rips away care in Wisconsin, my home state,” says Megan Jeyifo, the executive director of the Chicago Abortion Fund.
Although federal taxpayer money cannot be used in the majority of abortions, Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany — a newly announced Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate — had this to say about Wednesday’s announcement:
“I do not believe taxpayers should be funding abortion. If they can raise private funds to do that, they’re free to do that they want to do, but I don’t think taxpayers should be paying for abortions.”
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul was part of a multi-state coalition that sued the Trump administration in July over the Planned Parenthood de-funding provision of the spending bill.
“What we’ve argued is that this specific provision in the bill is specifically targeting Planned Parenthood based on its advocacy for access to safe and legal abortion, and that targeting an organization based on its speech is inconsistent with the First Amendment,” Kaul says.
On Wednesday, the coalition moved for a preliminary order that would block the federal government from enforcing the provision. Kaul says it’s going to take time before it’s resolved as it moves through the courts.
Kaul says it’s unfortunate that care for Wisconsinites will be delayed or restricted, especially after Trump said the issue of abortion would be left up to the states.
For those who live in the Green Bay area, you’ve likely seen the pro-life walkers near the city’s Planned Parenthood location on Oneida Street. The leader of that group, 40 Days for Life, offered this statement on the announcement:
Planned Parenthood doesn’t give a whit about women or women’s health. They are in the baby-killing business. Do your homework and learn how much of their business is non-abortion related. They can’t get defunded soon enough and the fact that they get three-quarters of a billion dollars to kill babies and physically, emotionally and spiritually damage mothers is the highest of crimes. – Jim Ball
In a statement to The Associated Press, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin said it’s trying to see as many patients as possible before the law takes effect. The organization says it’s also considering legal action.
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has indicated it will continue to see patients for contraceptive services and cancer screenings, despite the funding cuts.
There are only three locations in Wisconsin that offer abortion services. Those are in Milwaukee, Madison and Sheboygan.
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