Earlier today, the Republican-controlled Wisconsin State Senate rammed though an anti-abortion bill that would require women who wish to have a pregnancy terminated to receive an ultrasound 24 hours before getting an abortion.
By "ramming through" the bill, I mean this:
Yesterday Senate Democrats blocked a final vote on SB 206 by objecting to suspending the rules to permit the third reading of the bill. By Senate rules that meant the vote had to be taken the next day. Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) called the lawmakers back in session at 8 o’clock this morning.
Over the loud objections of Democratic senators standing to be recognized, Senate President Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) pounded his gavel over and over and screamed at them to sit down and not interrupt the roll call vote.
Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison), the longest-serving state legislator in the nation, called this morning’s actions by the Republicans the worst abuse of power he has experienced in his more than 50 years as a legislator.
“The Republican majority is afraid.” Risser said. “They were afraid that they would lose some of their own members who were less than enthusiastic about the measure. They were afraid that they were losing the debate publicly so they had to ram the bill though so the public wouldn’t find out what they are really up to and who they are beholden to. They’re afraid of what’s going to happen in the next election, and they should be afraid.”
Here's the video:
The Republicans that control the Wisconsin Legislature are acting like they're afraid of losing their majorities despite having gerrymandered Wisconsin's state legislative districts to strongly benefit them two years ago. Now, they are resorting to thuggish, totalitarian tactics to ram through controversial legislation that does nothing to improve Wisconsin's struggling economy and makes it harder for Wisconsin women to get safe, legal abortions.
I'm not even going to ask if the Republicans that control Wisconsin's state government have any sense of decency, because they have no sense of decency!