Proposal to help Milwaukee County employees gain access to abortion care stalled

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A resolution that would help Milwaukee County employees gain access to abortion services across state lines is stalled.

"Milwaukee County employees deserve to be fully supported and to have access to abortion care," said Carly Klein, with Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee.

As it stands, Wisconsinites seeking abortion services must travel to other states. Now, a resolution would help cover some of those expenses for county employees using tax dollars.

Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee supports the proposal. "This is going to be a great steppingstone to show what is possible as we're trying to cope with the really harmful abortion bans that are happening," said Klein. "A model for their employees seeking like saving procedures."

Right now, the fate of the resolution is up in the air after the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted Thursday to send the proposal to the county attorney for further review and a possible change in language.

Some board members shared strong opposition during Thursday's meeting.

"I don't think the taxpayers should be footing the bill for abortions," said District 17 County Supervisor Steve Taylor.

Meanwhile, District 4 County Supervisor Ryan Clancy is a co-author on the proposal and spoke to CBS 58 about the outcome of Thursday's meeting.

He says he still feels hopeful about the resolution moving forward.

A recent Marquette University poll found that 59% of Milwaukee County residents support access to abortion.

The county board of supervisors will vote on the revised resolution on June 22.