The job-creation hits just keep coming to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. And who knows, maybe his total failure to create the economic miracle he promised when running for office is making the opportunity to change the subject to
forced ultrasounds as a requirement for abortion especially appealing. Focusing on policing women's bodies rather than creating jobs sure puts Walker in his party's mainstream, though.
To recap, not only is Walker's state's economy expected to contract over the next six months, one of just five states where that's expected, but the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., the public-private job creation agency Walker created two years ago, continues to have staffing woes. Its fourth chief financial officer in two years will be starting work next week, but its third controller in two years will be leaving. Nothing says major success story like constant staff turnover. (And audits finding you're not obeying the law, of course.)
With his economic record such a complete disaster, enter the attack on women's control of their own bodies, in the form of a bill that would not only require an ultrasound (transvaginal or abdominal, your choice, you lucky gal) but would introduce a 24 hour waiting period and force one clinic to close. But, as the DNC points out, Walker's not alone:
Just yesterday, the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee passed a bill that if enacted would ban all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for cases of rape, incest or when the mother's health is at risk. Ahead of the vote, Rep. Trent Franks, a leading House conservative and sponsor of the amendment went as far as to say that pregnancies as a result of rape are 'very low,' echoing similar comments made last year by Missouri Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin. In Texas, Governor Rick Perry made a surprise announcement by adding sweeping anti-abortion bills onto the agenda for a special legislative session, including one piece of legislation that could shut down 80% of Texas's abortion clinics. And in Wisconsin, Governor Scott Walker pledged to sign legislation into law that would force women to get a medically unnecessary ultrasound when considering an abortion. That's a summary of one day's efforts in today's Republican Party.
And that one day is on top of the five states that have already placed new restrictions on abortion in the first six months of 2013 alone. All in all, it's pretty clear that Republican priorities are in other people's vaginas, not in making the economy work.
9:18 AM PT: Sign our petition shaming Wisconsin senators for attacking women and subverting democracy with this ultrasound bill.