"When Right to Life speaks, GOP listens"

From the Journal Sentinel Capitol blog:

"If proof of Wisconsin Right to Life’s clout is necessary, look no further than the bill regarding the rights of health care professionals to refuse to perform certain procedures on moral or religious grounds.

"There were 25 groups that were registered as having lobbied on the bill: 18 opposed it, four were neutral on the issue, two were undecided, and just one that was for it: Wisconsin Right to Life.

"The bill passed the Assembly on Tuesday with a 60 to 33 vote, with 6 lawmakers not voting.

"The Assembly considered the bill for more than five hours, but Republican sponsors refused to answer Democrats’ questions about the bill and its intent.Democrats repeatedly tried to engage Republicans in the debate, but were consistently rebuffed.

"Author Rep. Jean Hundertmark (R-Clintonville) responded to questions about an early amendment, then clammed up.

“This has been an interesting discourse today,” Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee) said sarcastically before a vote was taken.

"It was the same strategy Republicans employed during an all-night “debate” last March over a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex and civil unions in Wisconsin. Although Democrats spoke all night, the amendment’s author, Rep. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin), spoke only before the final vote, and wasn't even in his seat for much of the night.

--By Stacy Forster