VP Harris recognizes 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade in Milwaukee suburbs
WAUKESHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- On Monday, Jan. 22, Vice President Kamala Harris launched her national abortion rights tour in Waukesha County as Democrats seek to capitalize on the issue after it helped motivate their base in recent statewide elections.
During her "Fight for Reproductive Freedom" tour, Harris spoke about the harms of abortion bans, such as Wisconsin's 1849 law. It put an end to abortions for 15 months in wake of the landmark abortion ruling that was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022.
"In a state whose motto is forward, these extremists are trying to take us backward, but we're not having that," Harris said.
Last year, a Dane County judge ruled the ban doesn't apply to consensual abortions, which triggered Planned Parenthood to resume services at clinics in Madison, Milwaukee, and Sheboygan.
Harris also put blame on former President Donald Trump for "gutting abortion care across the county" after he nominated three Supreme
Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.
"[Trump] intended for them to take your freedoms and it's a decision he brags about," Harris said to crowd of supporters at the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 7 in Big Bend. "Women today have fewer rights that than their mothers and grandmothers. How dare he."
The Biden administration emphasis on abortion comes as they hope it will boost turnout this fall with indicators showing Trump, the frontrunner is on track to become the GOP nominee.
Before her visit, the Biden administration also announced steps to strengthen access to contraception and medication abortions. It includes expanding coverage through the Affordable Care Act to provide free contraception and giving federal employees more access as well.
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It set up dueling narratives on the issue as Republicans have struggled to refine their message around abortion after Democratic help elect a new liberal justice to the state Supreme Court last year, flipping control of the court for the first time in 15 years.
Brian Schimming, chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, noted while they've suffered a string of statewide losses there was some exceptions including Sen. Ron Johnson, who won a third term in 2022, despite other defeats up and down the ballot.
"If the Democrats think this is some panacea just to use abortion to try and distract everyone from their other problems, the economy, national defense, war, and the open boarder -- I think that's a failed effort," Schimming said.
Harris event kicks off one of many stops the Biden administration is making to the Badger State this week.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden will hold an event in Superior to highlight his economic agenda. Then, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will visit Milwaukee on Friday to tour the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership facility and conduct a roundtable with WRTP and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.