MADISON, Wisconsin, November 24, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Undeterred by the recent defeat of a personhood amendment in Mississippi, Wisconsin pro-lifers have put forward their own personhood amendment.
The amendment, introduced last week by Rep. Andre Jacque (R-Bellevue), must first be approved by two state legislatures in succession and then by a majority of voters. The measure proposes to define “people” and “person” in the state constitution to include “every human being at any stage of development.”
Jacque told the La Crosse Tribune that the bill aims to enshrine “a true definition of human life” in the state constitution in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned and decisions on abortion are returned to the states.
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A similar Mississippi measure failed earlier this month 58 – 42 after a targeted campaign by media, Planned Parenthood, and other abortion groups claiming it would outlaw the use of contraceptives. That amendment proposed to define “person” to include “every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent.”
Wisconsin’s two largest pro-life groups are divided over the personhood approach.
Pro-Life Wisconsin, which is backing it, says the bill would outlaw all surgical and chemical abortions. However, Wisconsin Right to Life argues that on its own the personhood amendment would have no effect whatsoever.
According to Wisconsin Right to Life, the amendment represents a “threat to the protection of Wisconsin unborn children.” The group claims that it would invalidate Wisconsin’s existing ban on abortion, which will kick in as soon as Roe v. Wade is overturned. They also say it would cost millions of dollars, with the likelihood that it would simply be overturned in the courts.