Wisconsin Senate Cmte. Approves Born-Alive Infants Protect Act
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 28, 2003
Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) — A Wisconsin state Senate committee voted to support a pro-life bill that would require medical care to be given babies who survive botched abortions.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin) and Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), was approved on a four to one vote. The sole vote against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act was cast by Sen. Gary George (D-Milwaukee).
Pro-life groups were pleased with the vote, but disappointed that Sen. George opposed it.
"We are shocked and appalled that Sen. George voted against protecting living aborted babies from the kind of atrocities that occur in some hospitals and that were so vividly described at the public hearing on this bill," said Susan Armacost, Legislative Director of Wisconsin Right to Life.
Armacost explained that the Roe v. Wade decision, that legalized abortion throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy for any reason, does not apply to babies who have survived abortion and are born alive.
The Committee heard dramatic testimony last week, demonstrating the need for the bill, SB 195.
Jill Stanek, a pro-life nurse, told the committee of numerous atrocities inflicted upon babies born alive after abortion at Christ Hospital in Illinois. She saw babies who survived abortion and left for hours alone to die without receiving medical attention.
Stanek worked in the hospital’s labor and delivery unit.
"This is kind of a simple concept," said Rep. Gundrum (R-New Berlin). Apparently not for some.
Pro-life lawmakers were surprised by some who opposed the bill.
Gary Radloff, the legislative liaison for the state Department of Health and Family Services, said the agency is opposed to the measure because the state already is in strict compliance with the federal law — leading some to wonder why he would oppose a state version.
Rev. Sue Moline Larson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America also opposed the pro-life legislation.
In 2002, Congress passed a federal version of the pro-life bill and President Bush signed it into law.
The bill is expected to pass both Republican-controlled houses of the Wisconsin Legislature. Gov. Jim Doyle (D), who is pro-abortion is said by some key Democrats to be considering a veto of the bill.
Sen. Dave Zien (R-Chippewa Falls), Chair of the Senate Judiciary, Privacy and Corrections Committee, voted in favor of the bill. Joining Sen. Zien were Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau), Sen. Cathy Stepp (R-Racine) and Sen. Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee).
Related web sites:
Wisconsin Right to Life – https://www.wrtl.org
