This week, Legislative Republicans introduced two bills, one that would allow pharmacists to prescribe and dispense birth control, and the other that would create rape and incest exceptions to the state’s 1849 abortion law and clarify when abortions that protect the health of the mother would be allowed.

We want birth control to be easily accessible to prevent unplanned pregnancies. According to the American Medical Association, close to 30% of all counties in Wisconsin do not have an OB/GYN. On the other side, more than 90% of people live within five miles of a pharmacy. Studies have found having access to birth control reduces unplanned pregnancies and abortions by more than 60%. There are currently 24 states and the District of Columbia – including both red and blue states – that permit pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives.

I am proudly pro-life, and want to protect unborn babies. I also believe when a violent crime occurs, the victim might not be able to continue the pregnancy. Having exceptions for rape and incest is a reasonable compromise that most Wisconsinites support. We also understand that modern medicine has come a long way since our current abortion statute was written 175 years ago. With these great advances there need to be clarifications to the 1849 law that provide greater detail for situations in which the life of the mother is threatened during pregnancy.

It’s disappointing that Governor Evers has said he will veto any legislation that seeks to clarify the law unless it is a complete repeal of the current law. That is an extreme stance, when Wisconsinites continue to call for compromise.

According to recent state polling by the Marquette University Law School, the vast majority of Wisconsin voters want exceptions to the state's 1849 abortion law.