MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans who management the Legislature are divided over whether or not to push for rape and incest abortion exceptions within the face of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ pledge to veto any invoice that retains the state’s 173-year-old ban in place.

Evers and Democrats are suing to overturn the 1849 legislation, which went into impact after the U.S. Supreme Court docket overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling that made abortions authorized. The state legislation is a near-total abortion ban, with no exceptions for rape or incest and unclear language about protections for the well being of the mom.

Republican Meeting Speaker Robin Vos advised The Related Press on Thursday that he’ll push for passage of a invoice granting clear exceptions to guard the life and well being of the mom and in instances of rape and incest.

“I’m going to work laborious to make it occur,” Vos stated. “I believe it’s the fitting public coverage and I believe it’s the place the general public is.”

His place places Vos at odds not solely with Evers, but additionally with fellow Republican Senate Majority Chief Devin LeMahieu. He advised the AP that he doesn’t intend to deliver ahead any invoice within the Senate granting abortion exceptions as a result of he is aware of will probably be vetoed by Evers.

“I’m undecided why I might make my caucus undergo such a troublesome vote if the governor goes to veto it,” he stated, including that it was a “very private concern” for a lot of Senate Republicans based mostly on their spiritual beliefs.

Democratic Senate Minority Chief Melissa Agard stated if Senate Republicans are combating the difficulty, “perhaps they need to mirror somewhat bit deeper and restore reproductive freedoms for individuals.”

Each the Senate and Meeting should approve an similar invoice earlier than it heads to the governor, who can both signal it into legislation or veto it. Evers vetoed payments final session that tried to make abortions harder, a part of a record-high variety of vetoes he issued throughout his first time period.

Vos stated that whereas he opposes abortion, he’s prepared to compromise to permit for exceptions that will additionally make clear the 1849 legislation.

“Let’s see if there’s some center floor the place we are able to discover consensus,” Vos stated. “I don’t know why (Evers) wouldn’t try this aside from politics.”

Evers reiterated to the AP on Tuesday that he would veto any invoice that retains the 1849 ban in place, even when it could imply that victims of rape and incest couldn’t get abortions in Wisconsin. Clinics that had offered abortions previous to Roe v. Wade being overturned stopped scheduling abortions whereas the lawsuit difficult the ban performs out.

“I’d love to return to the place we had been with Roe v. Wade,” Evers stated. “That’s all the time been my place. And so the concept that I’d comply with basically an 1849 legislation, that could be a nonstarter.”

Republicans have twice rejected makes an attempt by Evers to overturn the ban.

Absent the unlikely situation of the Legislature approving a legislation change that Evers indicators, the destiny of Wisconsin’s abortion ban will doubtless relaxation with the state Supreme Court docket. An April election will decide whether or not conservatives keep their 4-3 majority. If liberals win the seat, they’d have a 4-3 majority beginning in August.