Scott Walker signals little appetite for ‘fetal heartbeat’ 6-week abortion ban

Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI)

May 23--Gov. Scott Walker declined Tuesday to voice support for Wisconsin to enact its version of a new Iowa law that bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, typically about six weeks into a pregnancy.

"I think our laws protecting life in this state are very strong," Walker told reporters in Madison.

Asked again if he would back something like the Iowa law here, Walker repeated that Wisconsin's existing laws are strong.

Walker's unwillingness to publicly support the controversial measure comes as his bid for a third term is heating up.

Meanwhile, Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling criticized Walker for not dismissing the measure.

Earlier this month, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the fetal heartbeat abortion ban, the most restrictive of its kind in the nation.

The law is virtually certain to spur a court challenge; judges have struck down similar laws in Arkansas and North Dakota.

But at least some proponents of the Iowa measure welcome a court fight. They hope it will create a legal vehicle by which the U.S. Supreme Court could rule to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which established fetal viability outside the womb as the point until which states generally cannot restrict abortion access.

In 2015, Walker signed a 20-week abortion ban into law in Wisconsin. He has signed other laws backed by opponents of abortion rights, including removing insurance coverage of most abortions for public employees and reducing funding for Planned Parenthood.

But Walker appeared to pivot to the center on abortion in his last re-election bid in 2014. In a campaign ad, he said "reasonable people can disagree" on abortion and touted support for legislation "that leaves the final decision to a woman and her doctor."

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