Mon Jan 13, 2014 at 12:46 PM PST
WI GOP Bill Would Give Mother-In-Law Power to Stop a Daughter-In-Law's Abortion
Wisconsin's Republicans have a new twist on taking away choice that
is sure to please the ladyfolk: Allowing the woman's husband, parents
or mother and father-in-law to stop a planned abortion.
Under an obscure provision of SB 201, which provides injunctive relief for a "parent or a grandparent," a particularly meddling mother-in-law who got wind of a planned abortion could go to court and get an injunction against the abortion provider, ordering them not to perform the abortion:
The only catch, supposedly, is that the mother-in-law must have some sort of evidence that the abortion will be performed "solely on account of the sex of the child." Of course, the bill doesn't give any direction on how to determine when this threshold has been met.
Under an obscure provision of SB 201, which provides injunctive relief for a "parent or a grandparent," a particularly meddling mother-in-law who got wind of a planned abortion could go to court and get an injunction against the abortion provider, ordering them not to perform the abortion:
(b) Injunctive relief. A court may issue an order enjoining a person from performing an abortion contrary to s. 253.103. If the person violates the terms of the injunction, the court shall adjudge the person in civil contempt of the order and shall impose a civil penalty against the person for contempt in an amount of $10,000 for a first violation, $50,000 for a 2nd violation, and $100,000 for a 3rd and for each subsequent violation and may grant any other relief the court determines is just and proper in the circumstances.
The only catch, supposedly, is that the mother-in-law must have some sort of evidence that the abortion will be performed "solely on account of the sex of the child." Of course, the bill doesn't give any direction on how to determine when this threshold has been met.
For example, a mother-in-law could get wind-of a planned abortion at
clinic X, go to court claiming that this was a gender abortion based on
previous pro-boy or pro-girl statements of the daughter-in-law. This
law is so vague, that such a claim by the mother-in-law could be enough
to get an injunction on the abortion.
Even if the meddling mother-in-law doesn't win, simply filing a claim would allow her to open up her daughter-in-law's personal medical records for court inspection, and force the daughter-in-law to answer to a court for her lawful decision to end a pregnancy.
Finally, what every Wisconsin woman wants: Their mother-in-law making their health decisions for them.
This bill has already passed in the Wisconsin assembly by a 58-39 margin. In the Senate, it has been passed out of committee and bill sponsor Glenn Grothmann, is demanding a senate vote in the coming weeks.
Even if the meddling mother-in-law doesn't win, simply filing a claim would allow her to open up her daughter-in-law's personal medical records for court inspection, and force the daughter-in-law to answer to a court for her lawful decision to end a pregnancy.
Finally, what every Wisconsin woman wants: Their mother-in-law making their health decisions for them.
This bill has already passed in the Wisconsin assembly by a 58-39 margin. In the Senate, it has been passed out of committee and bill sponsor Glenn Grothmann, is demanding a senate vote in the coming weeks.
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