Wisconsin Speaker Removes Lawmaker’s Chairmanship Over Abortion Opposition
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 22, 2009
Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) — A long-time state representative has lost his position as the head of a committee in the Wisconsin Assembly because he deviated from the Democratic party-line position against an amendment to stop late-term abortions from being done in the University of Wisconsin health system.
In June, the Assembly Democratic leadership used a procedural maneuver to kill an amendment to the state budget that would have prevented UW entities from performing late-term abortions.
The amendment, authored by Rep. Dan LeMahieu, was strongly supported by Wisconsin Right to Life (WRTL) and pro-life groups but the leadership asked the Assembly to vote on a procedural maneuver that all members knew would result in killing the LeMahieu amendment.
The procedural vote prevailed by a one vote margin with all Republicans voting against it along with Independent Jeff Wood and Democrats Peggy Krusick and Bob Ziegelbauer.
Now, WRTL legislative director Susan Armacost informs LifeNews.com that Ziegelbauer is paying the price.
"The Democratic Assembly leadership doesn’t like it one bit when a member of their own party votes for what he believes when the issue is abortion," she said today. "Bob Ziegelbauer found that out last week when Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan ‘fired’ him for voting to prevent late-term abortions from being performed at the Madison Surgery Center."
"For having the audacity to care about the lives of late-term babies who face a horrible death by dismemberment, Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer was removed as the Chairman of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee," Armacost added.
"It appears that the Assembly leadership will do anything in their power to appease the radical pro-abortion lobby," she said.
Armacost said at the time that it appeared Democratic leaders were fearful that the amendment would be approved if members of the Assembly were allowed to vote on it.
"Apparently, the leadership felt that using a complicated procedural maneuver would mask their intention to protect the hideous late-term abortion plan at the Madison Surgery Center. Wisconsin Right to Life considers the recorded vote in favor of the leadership’s procedural maneuver to be a vote in favor of the late-term abortion plan at the Madison Surgery Center," she added.
In early February, the various boards associated with UW Hospital and Clinics made the decision that late-term abortions will be performed at the Madison Surgery Center.
Tens of thousands of people signed a petition in opposition to the plan and many opted to leave the UW system for their health care because of the late-term abortion plan. Numerous MSC staff members are furious that their facility will be used to destroy fully-formed babies in a brutal and barbaric manner.
ACTION: Contact members of the Wisconsin legislature at https://www.legis.state.wi.us and let them know you are disappointed that Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer lost his committee chairmanship because he opposed late-term abortions.
Also, contact Speaker Michael Sheridan at (888) 947-0044 or email [email protected]
Related web sites:
Wisconsin Right to Life – https://WisconsinRightToLife.org
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