Wisconsin Republicans Pass Abortion, Abstinence-Only Sex Education Bills

The Wisconsin State Assembly on Wednesday passed a bill that will limit abortion coverage, as well as a measure imposing abstinence-only sex education in schools.

The abortion bill, passed by a vote of 61-34 in the Republican dominated assembly, bans abortion coverage under a private health insurance exchange set up under the Affordable Care Act. The sex education bill passed by a vote of 60-34.

Democrats criticized the measures as the latest saga in the Republican war against women. Rep. Donna Seidel (D-Wausau) blasted Republicans for not focusing on more pressing matters such as job creation and building the economy. Other bills such as a mining bill, which would create hundreds of jobs and help the state's economy, have yet to be passed, Democrats pointed out, yet the assembly debated until the early morning hours on abortion and sex education.

"They feel let down," Seidel told the Green Bay Press Gazette. "And what are we doing in these last hours to get that important work done? We are arguing about advancing an extreme social agenda that is nothing about that."

Under this mandate, a woman paying for her own private insurance would be unable to obtain an abortion under their coverage plan, according to RH Reality Check.

Wisconsin's sex education bill has received sharp criticism from Democrats who say that the law would increase pregnancy amongst teens as well as their risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac), the bill's sponsor, told the Green Bay Press Gazette, “The measure gives schools more freedom over their sex education instruction.”

“This is about local control,” he said.

Under the bill, sexual education courses also would have to discuss parental responsibility and the socioeconomic benefits of marriage, as well as explain pregnancy, prenatal development and childbirth.

Both the abortion and sex education bills now go to Gov. Scott Walker's (R) desk. He is expected to sign both bills.

Comments

[AmysThoughts]

07:46 PM on 05/05/2012

Yes, it's natural for everyone to have sex. I too thought it was futile to teach abstinence. However, I have a young teen, contemplating sex. She originally thought, “Why not, everyone does it and it is natural.” But, after looking into it further, she decided to postpone becoming sexually active because she now realizes that condoms are only successful at preventing pregnancy and STD’s if used properly. Yet, they do fall off and leak due to the nature of the activity. She will use them when she does try sex, but has decided to postpone it. She knows a woman typically does not enjoy sexual activity until she is in her 20’s, when her partner realizes a woman usually needs more to reach orgasm. While abstinence only sex education is not practical, abstinence focused sex education may help our children prevent pregnancy and STD’s at least until they are older. It may also prevent much of the heartache that young girls especially feel when they give their body to a young boy, thinking their relationship will last forever, only to realize they have given away what they can only give once. If you think these thoughts are archaic, you haven’t been around young teen girls lately. Remember, sex ed is for extremely young people, not adults who can do whatever we want and are old enough to handle the consequences. We don’t need to make our young teens feel like they aren’t normal if they haven’t had sex yet.

[acts4him]

12:10 PM on 06/02/2012

Well said......I guess that's why it didn't have some of the ridiculous responses that I've seen on this subject.

[james in denver]

10:40 PM on 03/31/2012

Would love to see Republican candidate Newt Gingrich explain how "abstinence only" led to his marrying his high school sweetheart and how faithful they've been to each other ever since.

[CS Parish]

10:18 PM on 03/29/2012

My fellow Wisconsinites.... TAKE NOTE OF THIS!! I think the ideal Republican policy would be that we all get in a time machine and go back 100 years. Really? Abstinence? I'm sure the kids are rolling their eyes and laughing at the poor educators who are now COMPELLED to teach this. Get real! Just because you don't believe in pre-marital sex, doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Just so short sighted and naive......

[acts4him]

12:11 PM on 06/02/2012

You should come back and read the "right-on" and "timely" response 2 above YOUR "attack ad" containing no "common sense".

[jerryengelbach]

06:43 PM on 03/29/2012

"Abstinence-only" is not sex education. It's anti-sex education.

The ban on insurance coverage for abortion appears to be unconstitutional on its face, since abortion is considered a constitutional right according to Roe vs. Wade. A sane Supreme Court would overturn this law and in so doing knock out all other laws limiting access to abortion.

[calinroatis]

11:50 AM on 03/20/2012

Wisconsin voters, when voting next time, use your heads.

[forgetpartylines]

11:28 PM on 03/19/2012

So how long until the recall elections start because It looks like the sooner the better to repeal this BS

[rowdiman]

10:13 PM on 03/19/2012

Don't any of these nimrods remember being young men? Good luck with that abstinence-only deal- ama jig.

[soma77]

09:48 PM on 03/19/2012

I feel sorry for Wisconson women they need to stop voting for Republicans or become a refugee in another state.

[oldwolf49]

07:31 PM on 03/19/2012

Wisconson is really becoming the new Kansas. I wonder how long it will take to repeal all these STUPID laws once Walker and his goons are voted out.

[CS Parish]

10:21 PM on 03/29/2012

Just asked that question in my educators union meeting. Looks to be a long process because not only does Walker have to go, but the Democrats will need to recapture the majority. And to think, Wisconsin USED to be a somewhat forward looking state. I'm embarrassed by our politics now, what a bunch of short sighted, naive, STUPID people!

[Kibashi Siyoto]

09:49 PM on 03/17/2012

Of all the birth control methods, abstinence has the highest failure rate. And it fails in a spectacular way....

[Dileas]

08:26 PM on 03/19/2012

Yeah... and the Catholic Church has depended on it's failure for hundreds of years.

[stopnlisten]

11:00 AM on 03/17/2012

These laws are coming from men whose wives have probably gone through menopause. Not their problem and not their gender. It's all about money and not the right to life.

[Dileas]

08:29 PM on 03/19/2012

I wonder how many of these old men were virgins when they married (for the first time at least... I would be sure many have been divorced and probably remarried over the years). I wonder if they remember how they learned what they did about sex. Somehow I can't imagine every one of these men as young pre-teens cornering their parents for info on this subject.

[Pastori Balele]

11:58 PM on 03/16/2012

Women of America - be careful with these republicans. Never vote for any republican in November. Your rights are being snatched one by one. Republicans will relegate you to the kitchen soon. Romney, as Mormon has vowed to put women where they belong - in the kitchen - no jeans, no caffeinated soda or coffee and no freedom to your body. Well it's up to you in November. Please join me to vote for President Obama who is on your side.

[oldwolf49]

07:29 PM on 03/19/2012

Been sayin' this since 2003.

[Dileas]

08:34 PM on 03/19/2012

I used to vote primarily Republican. If only I had it to do again... Fortunately I wised up years ago. Base my votes on how they react to the abortion issue. I, for one, don't think the Gov't has any business regulating (their personal views of) morality anyway... but even worse now that they seem to think women don't deserve the dignity of owning their own bodies. NEVER again... never never never voting Republican. NEVER!!

[johuyik]

09:23 PM on 03/16/2012

People who support these abstinence only laws are putting their daughters at risk. When you're teaching abstinence only you're increasing your child's chances of getting pregnant or catching a disease because when they do have sex it will be unprotected.

[oldwolf49]

07:30 PM on 03/19/2012

Right on.

[rtbd66]

07:31 PM on 03/19/2012

Did you know that there is no such thing as "safe sex?" It has quietly been replaced with "safer sex" because condoms are less than 80% effective in protecting from STDs. Actually, the 80% (most effective rate) is for HIV protection, the others are less than that. I'm curious, as condoms have become more and more popular, available and advertised, what has happened to the rate of STDs over the last 10 years? Gosh, with all of the education and availability, why do rates continue to climb? Two reasons: 1 - condoms are not that effective (they don't cover enough and the germs are already poised, and 2 - the rate of sexual activity has increased over the years - because of crap on tv and radio.

[jerryengelbach]

06:47 PM on 03/29/2012

Your no. 2 is irrelevant. Who cares what the "rate of sexual activity" is? Sex is natural, stimulating, and good for you. The more, the better.

[johuyik]

09:09 PM on 03/16/2012

There is a word for people who on teach their kids 'abstinence' for birth control:

Grandparents.

It doesn't work, it never has, it's irresponsible to even consider.

[DONCAL]

06:55 PM on 03/18/2012

Grandparents.......Not true (I am one)

It doesn't work......True

[Maxiesid]

03:07 PM on 03/19/2012

Umm.. I think you painted that with too broad of a brush... old rich white guys think it is a heck of a plan.. the rest of us think they are ridiculous. I am a grandparent and I was amongst those that fought for our right to be free of male domination.. now we are back here, and I am encouraging my grandaughters, daughters and every woman to stand your ground... do NOT let them take us back to the days that they miss so much where the man had all the control of everything. Dont let them convince you that it is some sort of religious thing.. those days were terrible for women and we dont want them back.

[NaClH2O]

06:44 PM on 03/16/2012

Cause nothing says failure more than trying to tell you kids not to have sex and not informing them of the dangers and/or how to do it safely. We'll see where the abortion statistics go in these states, I'm guessing it's not going to be down...