As the July 13 date for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s expected announcement that he’s running for president draws close, the Republican may be trying to bolster his credentials as a hardline conservative by signing legislation banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy,
The Guardian reports.
The bill, which could land on his desk any day, includes a provision allowing for fines and criminal charges for doctors and medical professionals who perform late-term abortions. While there are exemptions for women in a medical emergency, there is no exception for cases of rape or incest, according to the newspaper.
The Huffington Post reported that the law also would permit a father to sue a doctor for "'emotional and psychological distress' if he disagrees with the abortion, regardless of his relationship with the woman having the procedure."
The move is viewed by some as a way for Walker to reassure social conservatives he is on their side.
Despite having signed legislation "requiring women seeking abortions to undergo ultrasounds, prohibiting the procedure from being covered by healthcare plans and defunding Planned Parenthood" since being elected governor in 2011, The Guardian reports that his tact during his 2014 campaign caused concern on the right.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Walker "repeatedly" declined to "spell out where he stood on the issue" during his re-election campaign.
His camp aired an ad striking a "conciliatory tone on the issue" stating that the bill "would leave the final decision to a woman and her doctor," according to The Guardian.
"Reasonable people can disagree on this issue," he said in the spot. "Our priority is to protect the health and safety of all Wisconsin citizens."
Scott was trailing Democratic challenger Mary Burke with women voters when the ad aired in October, The Guardian said.
His
toned down position also angered pro-choice advocates such as Dayna Long, president of the Madison chapter of the National Organization for Women.
"To say one thing, when you’re seeking the vote, get elected, then operate in a way that’s completely antithetical to what you said when you were running, is incredibly frustrating," Long told The Guardian. "It’s a betrayal and frankly I think it makes him a really untrustworthy politician."
In March, Walker made his position clear in
"An Open Letter on Life," in which the Baptist pastor’s son stated he was "raised to believe in the sanctity of life" and would "always fight to protect it."
The letter said he would sign the bill prohibiting abortions after 20 weeks when it arrived in his desk, adding that he’d "support similar legislation on the federal level."
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