The State Assembly (finally!) votes today on Sen. Judy Robson's (D-Beloit) Compassionate Care for Rape Victims bill. If it becomes law, this legislation would require all hospitals in Wisconsin to inform rape victims about emergency contraception and dispense it upon their request. Only 33% of hospitals currently do so, which means a lot of women are not getting comprehensive medical attention after experiencing rape. The Senate passed the bill 27-6 way back in May. Here's hoping our state's often moronic, Republican-dominated Assembly votes correctly.
Throughout the current legislative session, some truly incredible Wisconsinites (such as Amanda Harrington) have come forward in hearings at the capitol and in the media to share their survivor stories to illuminate the importance of the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims bill. This is a common sense piece of legislation that can help rape victims begin to heal by empowering them with choices immediately following the trauma.
It's really a no-brainer. Even so, the ruthless folks over at Pro-Life Wisconsin refuse hop off their ideological high horses to show some sympathy for victims of sexual assault. Why? According to Peggy Hamill, state director of PLW, via the Badger Herald: “it is extremely difficult to determine whether or not fertilization has occurred at the time emergency contraception is directed to be taken.” In other words, PLW believes women should give birth to babies fathered by rapists. And those phonies consider their positions pro-family?
I encourage you to attend the vote this morning in support of CCRV. PPAWI has details. Issues of choice typically draw an interesting mix of folks to downtown Madison, so even if reproductive health care isn't your political passion, tomorrow's vote is guaranteed to be a great opportunity to support an important bill and witness democracy in action.
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