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Pro-Life Voting Records
WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE
2001–2002 Session
HOWTHEY
VOTED
Wisconsin Right to Life
Political Action Committee
10625 West North Avenue, Suite LL
Milwaukee, WI 53226-2331
PHONE: (414) 778-5780
FAX: (414) 778-5785
EMAIL: [email protected] BROCHURE COMPLETELY
FOR ASSEMBLY VOTES
2003-2004 Session
The “How They Voted” brochure is compiled by
the Wisconsin Right to Life Political Action
Committee after the completion of each two-
year state legislative session. This brochure
includes the actual voting records of incumbent
state legislators on key right-to-life legislative
issues. This information is intended to provide
information to individuals who may wish to
consider the voting records of incumbents at
election time.
This brochure and other important election-
related information can be found at the
Wisconsin Right to Life website at
For voting records of federal candidates, visit
the website of the National Right to Life
Compiled by the
Wisconsin Right to Life
Political Action Committe
Since the mid-1970s, the enact-
ment of all pro-life laws in
Wisconsin has been the result of
the work of Wisconsin Right to
Life. For more information about
right-to-life legislation in the State
of Wisconsin, visit the Legislative
Information Center on the
Wisconsin Right to Life website at
Committee at www.nrlc.org.
www.wrtl.org.
www.wrtl.org.
www.wrtl.org
Explanation of Key State Assembly Votes
2003-2004 Session
Key Assembly votes are recorded for the following bills:
AB 67 – The Conscience Clause Bill protects the conscience rights of
health care professionals and facilities so they cannot be forced to
participate in activities that cause the deliberate destruction of human
life. The activities in this legislation for which conscience rights can be
evoked are abortion, assisted suicide, euthanasia, unethical research
involving the deliberate destruction of human embryos, and the use of
fetal tissue from aborted babies. This legislation does not create con-
science rights for any other activity, nor does it ban any of the activities
protected in this legislation. It merely protects particular health care
professionals and facilities, who believe their mission is to treat and heal,
from being forced to participate in the deliberate destruction
of human life. The authors of AB 67 are Representative Jean
Hundertmark (R-Clintonville) and Senator Carol Roessler (R-Oshkosh).
AB 67 was passed by the legislature; however, it was vetoed by
Governor Jim Doyle.
AB 372 – The Born Alive Infant Protection Act provides that every infant
born alive after an abortion has the same legal status and legal rights
under Wisconsin law as an infant born alive after a normal delivery
resulting from a natural or induced labor or a cesarean section. The
authors of AB 372 are Representative Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin)
and Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin). AB 372 was passed by the
legislature, and signed into law by the governor.
AB 634 – Legislation to prevent Planned Parenthood and other family
planning providers from using $38 million in new federal dollars to
provide services to vulnerable minor girls. These organizations are noto-
rious for using their family planning clinics as sites from which they refer
minors for abortions. Although AB 634 does not affect other state and
federal dollars already flowing to these organizations, it would prevent
Planned Parenthood and other like-minded organizations from using the
new pot of $38 million federal dollars to promote abortion among teens
and refer them for abortions. The authors of AB 634 are Representative
Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) and Senator Joseph Leibham
(R-Sheboygan). AB 634 was recommended for passage by the
Assembly Family Law Committee, but was not acted upon by the full
Assembly.
AB 635 – The Parental Consent Clean-Up Bill strengthens Wisconsin’s
parental consent for abortion law that was enacted in 1992. This legisla-
tion adds a notarization requirement for a parent’s signature on the abor-
tion consent form in order to prevent fraudulent signatures and protect
parental rights. This legislation also removes certain loopholes in the
current law such as a provision that permits adult family members to
consent for a minor’s abortion, and a provision that allows a minor to
avoid the parental consent requirement by falsely claiming she is
suicidal. This legislation recognizes the right of parents to be involved in
the irreversible, life-altering decision of whether their minor daughter
should obtain an abortion. The authors of AB 635 are Representative
Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) and Senator Joseph Leibham (R-
Sheboygan). AB 635 was recommended for passage by the Assembly
Judiciary Committee, but was not acted upon by the full Assembly.
Vote #1: Assembly floor vote to table an amendment to AB 67 which would
have discriminated against hospitals and employees who exercise their con-
science rights under AB 67 - and not to any other facility or employee - by
requiring them to post a conspicuous notice of their intention to refuse to
participate in the life-destructive activities covered by AB 67. Amendment
tabled, 56-39 (WRL position prevailed).
Vote #2: Assembly floor vote to table an amendment to AB 67 which would
have forced a health care professional or facility to participate in abortion,
Representative VOTE: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 % RATING
AINSWORTH, John (R-6) X X X X O X PO X 75%
ALBERS, Sheryl (R-50) X X X X X X X X X X 100%
BALOW, Larry (D-68) O O O O O O O X 13%
BERCEAU, Terese (D-76) O O O O O O O X O 11%
BIES, Garey (R-1) X X X X X X X X 100%
BLACK, Spencer (D-77) O O O O O O O X 13%
BOYLE, Frank (D-73) O O O O O O O X 13%
COGGS, Spencer (D-17) O O O O O O O X 13%
COLON, Pedro (D-8) O O O O O O O X 13%
CULLEN, David (D-13) O O O O O O O X O O 10%
FITZGERALD, Jeff (R-39) X X X X X X X X X 100%
FOTI, Steven (R-38) X X X X X X X X 100%
FREESE, Stephen (R-51) X X X X X X X X 100%
FRISKE, Donald (R-35) X X X X X O X X X 89%
GARD, John (R-89) X X X X X X X X 100%
GIELOW, Curt (R-23) X X X X X X X A 100%
GOTTLIEB, Mark (R-60) X X X X X X X X 100%
GRONEMUS, Barbara (D-91) O O O O O O O X 13%
GROTHMAN, Glenn (R-58) X X X X X X X X X X X 100%
GUNDERSON, Scott (R-83) X X X X X X X X 100%
GUNDRUM, Mark (R-84) X X X X X X X X X X 100%
HAHN, Eugene (R-47) X X X X X X X X 100%
HEBL, Tom (D-46) O O O O O O O X A O 11%
HINES, J.A. (R-42) X X X X X X X X 100%
HONADEL, Mark (R-21) X 100%
Representative VOTE: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 % RATING
HUBER, Gregory (D-85) O O O O O O O X 13%
HUBLER, Mary (D-75) O O O O O O O X 13%
HUEBSCH, Michael (R-94) X X X X X X X X 100%
HUNDERTMARK, Jean (R-40) X X X X X X X X X 100%
JENSEN, Scott (R-98) X X X X X X X X X 100%
JESKEWITZ, Suzanne (R-24) O X O X O O X X 50%
JOHNSRUD, DuWayne (R-96) X O O O X O PO X 38%
KAUFERT, Dean (R-55) X X X X X X X X 100%
KERKMAN, Samantha (R-66) X X X X X X X X X X 100%
KESTELL, Steve (R-27) X X X X X X X X X 100%
KRAWCZYK, Judy (R-88) X X X X X X PX A 100%
KREIBICH, Robin (R-93) X X X X X X X X 100%
KREUSER, James (D-64) O O O O O O PO X 13%
KRUG, Shirley (D-12) O O O O O O O X 13%
KRUSICK, Peggy (D-7) X O X X X O X X X 78%
LADWIG, Bonnie (R-63) X X O X X X X X 88%
LASEE, Frank (R-2) A A A A A A X X 100%
LEHMAN, John (D-62) O O O O O O O X 13%
LEHMAN, Michael (R-99) X X X X X X X X 100%
LEMAHIEU, Daniel (R-59) X X X X X X X X 100%
LOEFFELHOLZ, Gabe (R-49) X X X X X X X X 100%
LOTHIAN, Thomas (R-32) X X X X X X X X 100%
MCCORMICK, Terri (R-56) X X X X X X X A X X 100%
MEYER, Dan (R-34) X X X X X X X X 100%
MILLER, Mark (D-48) O O O O O O O X 13%
2003-2004 SESSION
assisted suicide, euthanasia and other activities involving the deliberate
destruction of human life when a refusal to participate would endanger the
health or life of a patient. This “health exception” would gut the bill because
the U.S. Supreme Court has defined a health exception for abortion so
broadly that it permits a woman to have an abortion for any reason during
any stage of her pregnancy. This amendment also would have created an
exception for prenatal care; this was not necessary because AB 67 does not
create any conscience right to refuse to provide prenatal care. Amendment
tabled, 58-37 (WRL position prevailed).
Vote #3: Assembly floor vote to table an amendment to AB 67 which would
have discriminated against hospitals, employees, physicians and pharma-
cists who exercise their conscience rights under AB 67 - and not to any
other facility, employee, physician, or pharmacist - by requiring them to post
a conspicuous notice of their intention to refuse to participate in the life-
destructive activities covered by AB 67. Amendment tabled, 53-40 (WRL
position prevailed).
Vote #4: Assembly floor vote to table an amendment to AB 67 which would
have forced an employee to participate in abortion, assisted suicide,
euthanasia and other activities involving the deliberate destruction of human
life when a refusal would pose an undue hardship on an employer’s busi-
ness. Amendment tabled, 58-35, paired 2 (WRL position prevailed).
Vote #5: Assembly floor vote to table an amendment to AB 67 which would
have required a physician who refuses to participate in abortion, assisted
suicide, euthanasia and other activities involving the deliberate destruction
of human life, to make a good faith effort to transfer or refer patients to
another physician who is willing to participate in these life-destructive activi-
ties. Amendment tabled, 56-37, paired 2 (WRL position prevailed).
Vote #6: Assembly floor vote to table an amendment to AB 67 which would
have required a physician who refuses to participate in abortion, assisted
suicide, euthanasia and other activities involving the deliberate destruction
of human life, to make a good faith effort to transfer a patient with a living
will or a power of attorney for health care to another physician who is willing
to participate in these life-destructive activities. This amendment also would
have created an exception for following a do-not-resuscitate order; this was
not necessary because AB 67 does not create any conscience right to
refuse to follow a do-not-resuscitate order. Amendment tabled, 54-39, paired
2 (WRL position prevailed).
Vote #7: Assembly floor vote on passage of AB 67. Passed, 56-35, paired 6
(WRL position prevailed).
Vote #8: Assembly floor vote on passage of AB 372. Passed, 95-0 (WRL
position prevailed).
Vote #9: Assembly committee vote to recommend passage of AB 67.
Passage recommended, 8-1 (WRL position prevailed). Assembly Labor
Committee members only.
Vote #10: Assembly committee vote to recommend passage of AB 372.
Passage recommended, 5-1 (WRL position prevailed). Assembly Judiciary
Committee members only.
Vote #11: Assembly committee vote to recommend passage of AB 635.
Passage recommended, 6-2 (WRL position prevailed). Assembly Judiciary
Committee members only.
Vote #12: Assembly committee vote to recommend passage of AB 634.
Passage recommended, 5-1 (WRL position prevailed). Assembly Family
Law Committee members only.
% RATING: The pro-life voting percentage for each Assembly
Representative is a straight average.
X = Voted in favor of the WRL position
O = Voted against the WRL position
PX = Paired vote in favor of the WRL position
PO = Paired vote against the WRL position
A = Absent or not voting
Representative VOTE: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 % RATING
MOLEPSKE, JR, Louis (D-71) X 100%
MONTGOMERY, Phil (R-4) X X X X X X X X 100%
MORRIS, Johnnie (D-11) O O O O O O O X 13%
MUSSER, Terry (R-92) O X O X X X X X 75%
NASS, Stephen (R-31) X X X X X X X X X 100%
NISCHKE, Ann (R-97) X X X X X X X X 100%
OLSEN, Luther (R-41) X X X X X X X X 100%
OTT, Alvin (R-3) X X X X X X X X 100%
OWENS, Carol (R-53) X X X X X X PX X X 100%
PETROWSKI, Jerry (R-86) X X X X X X X X 100%
PETTIS, Mark (R-28) X X X X X X X X 100%
PLOUFF, Joe (D-29) O O O O O O O X 13%
POCAN, Mark (D-78) O O O O O O O X 13%
POPE-ROBERTS, Sondy (D-79) O O O O O O O X 13%
POWERS, Michael (R-80) X X O X O X O X 63%
RHOADES, Kitty (R-30) O X O X X X X X 75%
RICHARDS, Jon (D-19) O O O O O O O X 13%
SCHNEIDER, Marlin (D-72) O O O O O O O X 13%
SCHOOFF, Dan (D-45) O O O O O O O X 13%
SERATTI, Lorraine (R-36) X X X X X X X X 100%
SHERMAN, Gary (D-74) O O O O O O O X 13%
SHILLING, Jennifer (D-95) O O O O O O O X 13%
SINICKI, Christine (D-20) O O O O O O O X O 11%
STASKUNAS, Tony (D-15) X X X X X X X X A X 100%
STEINBRINK, John (D-65) O O A O O O O X 14%
Representative VOTE: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 % RATING
STONE, Jeff (R-82) X X X X X X X X 100%
SUDER, Scott (R-69) X X X X X X X X 100%
TAYLOR, Lena (D-18) O O O O O O O X 13%
TOLES, Barbara (D-17) NA
TOWNS, Debi (R-43) X X X X X X X X 100%
TOWNSEND, John (R-52) X X X X X X PX X 100%
TRAVIS, David (D-81) O O O PO PO PO O X 13%
TURNER, Robert (D-61) O O O O O O O X 13%
UNDERHEIM, Gregg (R-54) O X X X X X X X 88%
VAN AKKEREN, Terry (D-26) O O O O O O O X X 22%
VAN ROY, Karl (R-90) X X X X X X X X 100%
VRAKAS, Dan (R-33) X X X X X X X X X 100%
VRUWINK, Amy Sue (D-70) O O O O O O O X 13%
VUKMIR, Leah (R-14) X X X X X X X X 100%
WARD, David (R-37) X X X X X O X X 88%
WASSERMAN, Sheldon (D-22) O O O O O O O X 13%
WEBER, Becky (R-5) X X A PX PX PX X X 100%
WIECKERT, Steve (R-57) X X X X X X X X X 100%
WILLIAMS, Annette (D-10) O O O O O O O X 13%
WILLIAMS, Mary (R-87) X X X X X X X X 100%
WOOD, Jeffrey (R-67) X X X X X X X A 100%
WOOD, Wayne (D-44) A A A A A A X X X 100%
YOUNG, Leon (D-16) O O O O O O O X 13%
ZEPNICK, Josh (D-9) O O O O O O O X 13%
ZIEGELBAUER, Bob (D-25) X X X X X X X X 100%
Explanation of Key State Senate Votes
2003-2004 Session
Key Senate votes are recorded for the following bills:
AB 67 – The Conscience Clause Bill protects the conscience rights of health care professionals and facilities so they cannot be forced
to participate in activities that cause the deliberate destruction of human life. The activities in this legislation for which conscience rights
can be evoked are abortion, assisted suicide, euthanasia, unethical research involving the deliberate destruction of human embryos,
and the use of fetal tissue from aborted babies. This legislation does not create conscience rights for any other activity, nor does it ban
any of the activities protected in this legislation. It merely protects particular health care professionals and facilities, who believe their
mission is to treat and heal, from being forced to participate in the deliberate destruction of human life. The authors of AB 67 are
Representative Jean Hundertmark (R-Clintonville) and Senator Carol Roessler (R-Oshkosh). AB 67 was passed by the legislature;
however, it was vetoed by Governor Jim Doyle.
AB 372 and SB 195 – The Born Alive Infant Protection Act provides that every infant born alive after an abortion has the same legal
status and legal rights under Wisconsin law as an infant born alive after a normal delivery resulting from a natural or induced labor or a
cesarean section. AB 372 is the Assembly version of the Born Alive Infant Protection Act. SB 195 is the Senate version of the Born
Alive Infant Protection Act. The authors of AB 372 and SB 195 are Representative Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin) and Senator Mary
Lazich (R-New Berlin). AB 372 was passed by the legislature, and signed into law by the governor. SB 195 was recommended for
passage by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy, but further action by the legislature was not necessary due
to passage of the Assembly version, AB 372.
SB 27 – The Wrongful Birth and Wrongful Life Bill prevents lawsuits based solely on the notion that a child with disabilities should be
aborted rather than allowed to be born. In a wrongful birth lawsuit, the parents seek damages for the birth of a child with disabilities,
alleging that they would have aborted the child if the physician had properly tested, detected, or warned them of the risks of a disability.
A wrongful life lawsuit is similar except it is brought by or on behalf of a child, claiming that the child’s very existence is a legal wrong.
Wisconsin currently permits wrongful birth lawsuits, but not wrongful life lawsuits. This legislation would prevent lawsuits based on
either claim. The authors of SB 27 are Senator Neal Kedzie (R-Elkhorn) and Representative Becky Weber (R-Green Bay). SB 27 was
recommended for passage by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy, but was not acted upon by the full Senate.
SB 408 – The Adoption Tax Credit Bill creates a $5,000 income tax credit for adoption expenses. This economic incentive encourages
more adoptions. The author of SB 408 is Senator Tom Reynolds (R-West Allis). SB 408 was passed by the Senate on the last day of
the session and did not reach the Assembly in time for action.
Vote #1: Senate floor vote to reject an amendment to AB 67 which would have forced a health care professional or facility which refuses
to participate in abortion to make a referral for an abortion that is necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother. This “health
exception” would gut the bill because the U.S. Supreme Court has defined a health exception for abortion so broadly that it permits a
woman to have an abortion for any reason during any stage of her pregnancy. Amendment rejected, 19-14 (WRL position prevailed).
Vote #2: Senate floor vote to reject an amendment to AB 67 which would have forced a health care professional or facility which refuses
to participate in abortion, assisted suicide, euthanasia and other activities involving the deliberate destruction of human life, to refer the
patient to another health care professional or facility which is willing to participate in these life-destructive activities. Amendment rejected,
20-13 (WRL position prevailed).
Vote #3: Senate floor vote on passage of AB 67. Passed, 20-13 (WRL position prevailed).
Vote #4: Senate floor vote on passage of AB 372. Passed, 31-1 (WRL position prevailed).
Vote #5: Senate floor vote on passage of SB 408. Passed, 30-2 (WRL position prevailed).
Vote #6: Senate committee vote on passage of AB 67. Passage recommended, 5-4 (WRL position prevailed). Senate Health, Families,
Aging and Long Term Care Committee members only.
Vote #7: Senate committee vote on passage of AB 372. Passage recommended, 5-0 (WRL position prevailed). Senate Judiciary,
Corrections and Privacy Committee members only.
Vote #8: Senate committee vote on passage of SB 195. Passage recommended, 4-1 (WRL position prevailed). Senate Judiciary,
Corrections and Privacy Committee members only.
Vote #9: Senate committee vote on passage of SB 27. Passage recommended, 3-1 (WRL position prevailed). Senate Judiciary,
Corrections and Privacy Committee members only.
% RATING: The pro-life voting percentage for each Senator is a straight average.
UNFOLD BROCHURE COMPLETELY
FOR ASSEMBLY VOTES
X = Voted in favor of the WRL positionO = Voted against the WRL positionA = Absent or not voting
2003-2004 Session
Senator VOTE: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 % RATING
BRESKE, Roger (D-12) X X X X X 100%
BROWN, Ronald (R-31) X X X X O X 83%
CARPENTER, Tim (D-3) O O O X X O X X O 44%
CHVALA, Charles (D-16) O O O O X O 17%
COGGS, Spencer (D-6) O O O X 25%
COWLES, Robert (R-2) X X X X O 80%
DARLING, Alberta (R-8) X X X X X 100%
DECKER, Russell (D-29) O O O X X 40%
ELLIS, Michael (R-19) X X X X A 100%
ERPENBACH, Jon (D-27) O O O X X 40%
FITZGERALD, Scott (R-13) X X X X X X X X 100%
GEORGE, Gary (D-6) A X O A 50%
HANSEN, Dave (D-30) O O O X X 40%
HARSDORF, Sheila (R-10) X X X X X 100%
JAUCH, Robert (D-25) O O O X X O 33%
KANAVAS, Ted (R-33) X X X X X X 100%
KEDZIE, Neal (R-11) X X X X X 100%
LASEE, Alan (R-1) X X X X X 100%
LASSA, Julie (D-24) O O O X X 40%
LAZICH, Mary (R-28) X X X X X 100%
LEIBHAM, Joseph (R-9) X X X X X 100%
MEYER, Mark (D-32) O O O X X 40%
MOORE, Gwendolynne (D-4) O O O X X 40%
PANZER, Mary (R-20) X X X X X 100%
PLALE, Jeff (D-7) O X X X X 80%
REYNOLDS, Tom (R-5) X X X X X 100%
RISSER, Fred (D-26) O O O X X 40%
ROBSON, Judith (D-15) O O O X X O 33%
ROESSLER, Carol (R-18) X X X X X X 100%
SCHULTZ, Dale (R-17) X X X X X X 100%
STEPP, Cathy (R-21) X X X X X X X X 100%
WELCH, Robert (R-14) X X X X X X 100%
WIRCH, Robert (D-22) O O O X X 40%
ZIEN, David (R-23) X X X X X X X X 100%
