November 15, 2011

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin Announces Support of Recall Targeting Scott Walker
Cites Walker’s Dangerous and Unprecedented Attack on Women’s Health

Madison, WI – Today, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin (PPAWI) announced their support of recall efforts targeting Governor Scott Walker because of Walker’s continued and unprecedented attack on Wisconsin’s women and families. Relentless and reckless legislative actions backed by Walker will result in the loss of affordable essential health care services for thousands of Wisconsin women and families during this economic crisis. The push to restrict access to reproductive health care and information continues this week with a round of public hearings to repeal the Healthy Youth Act on Wednesday (AB 337) as well as a hearing on Thursday to ban private insurance coverage of abortion (AB 154).  These latest attacks on reproductive health supported by Governor Walker offer timely examples of misplaced priorities that are wrong for Wisconsin. 

“Never before have we seen a governor act so quickly and against the wants and priorities of Wisconsin to restrict such a wide range of women’s health care services,” stated Tanya Atkinson, Executive Director of PPAWI.  “We have seen a year full of unprecedented attacks against common sense public health policies that benefit the women and families of Wisconsin.” For over 75 years Planned Parenthood has worked with elected leaders of both parties and public health officials to provide a wide range of preventive health services including life-saving cancer screenings, birth control and STD prevention and treatment to enhance the health and well being of our communities. Walker backed funding bans of  Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, a nonprofit health care provider, is the first of many policies focused on ending the state’s partnership in support of affordable and preventative reproductive health care thousands of women, men and families rely on each year.  Pending legislative policies seeking to limit information, insurance coverage and even legal access to birth control and abortion underscore the urgency to act now. “In a state where poverty rates on the rise and over a half a million women in Wisconsin are in need of affordable contraceptive services and supplies, we should be prioritizing cost-effective health care access, particularly during this economic down turn.” Atkinson continued.  “Instead, we have seen a relentless wave of ideologically directed attacks to reduce women’s access to essential reproductive health care services. We must act now to preserve what remains of women’s health care access and the health and well-being of our communities.” To review a comprehensive list of all the policies passed, supported and currently being pushed that are backed by Governor Walker, go to www.ppawi.org.