
Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)
Republicans have already rejected Evers’ call for another special session to debate a proposal to amend the state’s constitution to include a guarantee of reproductive freedom.
Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday called for a special session of the Legislature to consider a constitutional reform proposal that would allow voters to pass or repeal state laws, including the current ban on abortion rights—written in 1849.
It’s the latest move by Evers to put pressure on Republicans over abortion and keep the issue in the spotlight ahead of the election. Polls have repeatedly shown that a majority of Wisconsin residents support abortion rights. Evers is in a tight race with Republican Tim Michels, who supports the state’s ban, which has no exceptions in cases of rape or incest.
Wisconsin clinics stopped performing abortions after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, as a legal fight plays out to determine whether the state’s pre-Civil War era abortion ban is in effect.
“Right now, today, when it comes to reproductive freedom, the will of the people isn’t the law of the land but it damned well should be, folks,” Evers said at a state Capitol news conference surrounded by Democratic state lawmakers.
Evers’ demand was quickly rejected by the state’s top Republicans, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, who declined to take steps to allow Wisconsin voters to make up their own minds on abortion. Instead, they called it a political stunt and promised to gavel in and gavel out the special session Evers put on their calendars for October 4.
Evers noted that Republican US Sen. Ron Johnson recently voiced support for having voters in the state vote on adding exceptions to the state’s abortion law. But Wisconsin is not among the states that provide a mechanism for voters to pass or repeal state laws. The state only allows for constitutional amendments, which would need to be passed twice during consecutive legislative sessions and then go before the voters.
Under Evers’ proposal, that would have changed, allowing voters to submit petitions to the Wisconsin Election Commission to hold votes on adding or repealing laws. Under Evers’ plan,voter-circulated measures for the ballot would have different signature thresholds based on votes in the most recent race for governor:
4% to repeal a law, about 106,000 signatures
6% for new law, about 159,000 signatures
8% for constitutional amendment, about 212,000
For perspective, to recall someone from office, as was attempted in 2012 for then-Gov. Scott Walker, it takes signatures from 25% of voters in the last gubernatorial election, or about 663,000 signatures.
Evers’ call comes as voters in states where ballot measures are allowed are making clear they support abortion rights. Kansas voters last month rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed the Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten restrictions or ban abortion outright. Michigan voters will decide in November whether to put the right to an abortion into the state constitution.
Evers has repeatedly used the tactic of calling special sessions on hot-button political issues, including gun control and expanding Medicaid, to put Republicans on the spot. They have never acted on any of the special session calls, including one in June to repeal the state’s abortion ban.
Johnson, who is also up for reelection in November, supports exceptions for rape and incest that don’t exist under the current state law.
Evers and his allies have been hitting Michels over his support of the state’s abortion ban. Michels did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Evers proposal, which is modeled after moves in other states.
Even in the unlikely event that Republicans would go along with it, the soonest any such measure could be enacted would be 2023. It would have to pass the Legislature twice and be approved by voters. Then the actual ballot initiatives would have to be circulated and approved.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Wisconsinites and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at UpNorthNews has always been to empower people across the state with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Wisconsin families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.


Opinion: Many to thank in fair maps victory for Wisconsinites
On February 19, 2024, Governor Tony Evers signed into law new and fair state legislative maps, bringing hope for an end to over a decade of...

Opinion: Empowering educators: A call for negotiation rights in Wisconsin
This week marks “Public Schools Week,” highlighting the dedication of teachers, paras, custodians, secretaries and others who collaborate with...

Op-ed: Trump’s journey from hosting The Apprentice to being the biggest loser
Leading up to the 2016 election, Donald Trump crafted an image of himself as a successful businessman and a winner. But in reality, Trump has a long...

Not just abortion: IVF ruling next phase in the right’s war on reproductive freedom
Nearly two years after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, another court is using that ruling to go after one of the anti-abortion right’s...