MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Days before the 49th anniversary of the decision in Roe v. Wade, Gov. Tony Evers and other Wisconsin officials came together to push for a bill that would defend access to reproductive health care.

Evers, Attorney General Josh Kaul, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin and others are advocating for Senate Bill 72, which would repeal a 172-year-old abortion ban. Officials note that this is currently unenforceable due to the ruling in the landmark case, but say reproductive health care in Wisconsin is under ‘serious attack’ given the court’s expected ruling. supreme this year.

The SCOTUS heard oral argument last month regarding a Mississippi law that bans abortion at 15 weeks with exceptions for rape or incest, which officials point to as a direct conflict with Roe v. Wade.

If the court strikes down Roe v. Wade, Wisconsin’s criminal statutes could come back into effect unless the law is repealed by then.

“If Roe v. Wade is overturned, Wisconsin could go back 50 years on access to reproductive health care,” Governor Evers said. “We cannot and must not go back. And frankly, people have become too comfortable relying on the Court to protect access to reproductive health care and allow them to decide whether the people we care about in Wisconsin – our family members, our friends and neighbors – can access the care they need. “

Planned Parenthood Advocates of WI President Tanya Atkinson called on the Legislature to appeal the law.

“We are witnessing the greatest threat to abortion access in nearly 50 years, which could affect nearly 1.3 million women of childbearing age in Wisconsin,” Atkinson said. “With the Supreme Court deliberating on a case that could overturn Roe, this is a wake-up call to come together to protect and support the ability of our friends and family members to decide if or when they become parents.”

A court decision is expected this summer.

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