GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – In a Green Bay gathering of his supporters Saturday afternoon, Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes launched what his campaign is calling a “Ron Against Roe Tour.”
“Women are not free to make their own healthcare decisions,” said Barnes, outside of the office for Brown County Democrats. “This is a decision that Ron Johnson celebrated, where he said if women don’t like the laws in your state like our 1849 criminal abortion ban then you can just move.”
Barnes and Democrats have been pushing to abolish Wisconsin’s current law, which outlaws nearly all abortions.
Johnson recently pitched the idea of putting abortion on the ballot through a statewide referendum.
As for Barnes’ tour, Mike Marinella, the press secretary for Johnson’s campaign, says Barnes “is once again using scare tactics to distract from his extreme position of legal abortion up to the moment of birth.”
“The truth is Ron Johnson wants the people of Wisconsin to have a say in what is a profoundly moral issue and supports exceptions to any law for rape and incest victims,” said Marinella in a statement.
“He’s had 12 years to show he actually cares about women’s health,” said Barnes. “He hasn’t. Now is way too late for him to start trying to do it.”
To change state law, there has to be a constitutional amendment, which first requires the legislature to agree to it in consecutive sessions.
Governor Tony Evers has said he agrees with Johnson and wants lawmakers to make it easier to hold a statewide vote. Republicans rejected Evers’ call for a special session, saying his request a political stunt.
Evers’ opponent, Tim Michels, supports the current abortion law, which doesn’t have exceptions for rape or incest. However, Michels says he would sign a bill that includes exceptions.
Election day is November 8th.
