Scott Walker: Women are only concerned with rape and incest in 'initial months' of pregnancy

Wisconsin governor, a Republican who is expected to run for president in 2016, says he is prepared to sign into law a 20-week abortion ban without exceptions

Wisconsin governor Scott Walker said he is prepared to sign into law a 20-week abortion ban without any exceptions for victims of rape or incest, arguing that women are concerned with those issues “in the initial months” of pregnancy.

Walker, a Republican who is expected to run for president in 2016, made the comments ahead of a public hearing in the Wisconsin legislature on proposed legislation that would outlaw abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Local television station WKOW aired Walker’s claim that an exception for rape or incest is not necessarily needed in the bill.

“I mean, I think for most people who are concerned about that, it’s in the initial months where they’re most concerned about it,” Walker said. “In this case, again, it’s an unborn life, it’s an unborn child, and that’s why we feel strongly about it. I’m prepared to sign it either way that they send it to us.”

When running for re-election last year, Walker would not definitively say where he stood on a 20-week abortion ban. But earlier this year, he publicly backed such legislation – including at the federal level – along with nearly every other Republican presidential hopeful.

The bill under consideration in Wisconsin includes penalties of up to $10,000 and a prison sentence of 3 1/2 years for anyone convicted of performing an abortion after 20 weeks. Fourteen states have already enacted 20-week abortion bans, which have been criticized by pro-choice advocates as ignoring the rare circumstances under which women seek late-term abortions.

Abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy account for just 1.5% of all abortions performed in the US. Most cases involve women who discover fetal abnormalities at a later stage, women who do not learn they are pregnant until after the 20-week mark, or low-income women who cannot afford to pay for the procedure. Scientific studies have also disputed the notion that fetuses can feel pain at 20 weeks.

Emily’s List, a group that helps elect pro-choice Democratic women to public office, slammed Walker’s position as dangerous for both women in his state and all across the country.

“A woman’s right to choose is hers and hers alone. Scott Walker is the last person on earth who should be telling women how to make their deeply personal decisions,” Marcy Stech, a spokeswoman for the group, said in a statement. “Walker’s dangerous attempts to undermine women in Wisconsin tell us all we need to know about his agenda for women across the country – it’s extreme, outrageous and profoundly wrong.”

Lawmakers in Wisconsin are expected to vote on the abortion ban next week. It’s unclear if the exceptions for rape and incest will make it into the final text. Robin Vos, the Republican speaker of the state assembly, has said he supports their inclusion.

Two years ago, Walker signed a bill into law that made women undergo mandatory ultrasounds before seeking an abortion. He defended the law last month, referring to ultrasounds as “just a cool thing”, during an interview with conservative host Dana Loesch.

“We defunded Planned Parenthood, we signed a law that requires an ultrasound – which, the thing about that, the media tried to make that sound like that was a crazy idea,” Walker said. “Most people I talk to, whether they’re pro-life or not, I find people all the time who’ll get out their iPhone and show me a picture of their grandkids’ ultrasound and how excited they are, so that’s a lovely thing. I think about my sons are 19 and 20, you know we still have their first ultrasound picture. It’s just a cool thing out there.”

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