Wisconsin: Dem Leaders Highlight GOP Attorney General Candidate’s Extreme Positions on Women
from my email ...
MADISON – Today, Former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager (D-Fond du Lac), Representatives Chris Taylor (D-Madison) and Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) held a press conference highlighting Republican Attorney General candidate Brad Schimel’s troubling positions on issues important to women and families.
Schimel is endorsed by Wisconsin Right to Life (WRTL), a group that has worked for decades to outlaw abortion in almost all circumstances, and make access to birth control more difficult. He also received the highest recommendation from Wisconsin Family Action, a group that has joined WRTL in their opposition to reproductive health care for women and lead the charge to amend the Wisconsin constitution to ban gay marriage, no longer in effect because of recent court decisions.
“Make no mistake about it, Brad Schimel as Attorney General would be extremely harmful for Wisconsin women and families,” said Taylor. “He not only opposes abortion, but believes that employers should be able to deny birth control to their female employees. Every woman and their loved ones should be concerned about Schimel’s extreme positions.”
In response to a Family Action survey, Schimel indicated that he “strong believed” that “human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage. . .” (See ivoterguide.com). He also heralded the recent Hobby Lobby decision, which allows employers to refuse to provide birth control insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
"Young women expect and deserve economic security - that starts with our ability to plan our families," stated Representative Shankland. "Access to birth control is paramount to determine our own futures. That's why Brad Schimel's positions on issues critical to women are so out of step with our lives."
The Attorney General takes an oath to uphold the state and federal constitutions and has the discretion about enforcing unconstitutional laws. Schimel has indicated that he will enforce all laws, regardless of whether provisions violate constitutional rights. Schimel even indicated during an earlier interview that he would have enforced inter-racial marriage bans. He has stated that it is just “representative democracy” to have big campaign donors influence policy.
“The Attorney General has an obligation to uphold the constitution and protect people’s rights,” said former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager. “Sometimes that means standing up to your own political party when they pass laws that overreach and trample on individual rights, including women’s rights to make the most personal and private decisions about their lives without government intrusion. Brad Schimel clearly is not up to fulfilling this important task.”