2018: Ron Johnson Effectively Voted For The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, Which Banned Abortion After 20-Weeks. In January 2018, Johnson voted for legislation banning abortion after the fetus is 20-weeks old. According to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill that would prohibit abortions in cases where the probable age of the fetus is 20 weeks or later and would impose criminal penalties on doctors who violate the ban, with certain exceptions. The bill would require a second doctor trained in neonatal resuscitation to be present for abortions where the fetus has the ‘potential’ to survive outside the womb.” The vote was on a motion to invoke cloture on a motion to proceed, which required 60 affirmative votes. The Senate rejected the motion by a vote of 51 to 46. [Senate Vote 25, 1/29/18; Congressional Quarterly, 1/29/18; Congressional Actions, S. 2311]
Ron Johnson Proposed A Nationwide Ban On Abortions 20 Weeks After Fertilization. According to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Johnson has proposed a nationwide ban on abortions 20 weeks after fertilization, which would be in line with Wisconsin law. The Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalized abortion nationwide until a fetus is developed enough to survive outside a woman's uterus. Johnson said he wishes the court had never ruled on abortion.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/18/19]
Ron Johnson Claimed He Would Not Support Abortion Legislation In Alabama That Made Performing An Abortion A Felony In Nearly All Cases. According to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “‘The fact of the matter is, you allow it that way, if you don't like the result in the state you currently reside, you can move. You have that freedom in America, which is a good thing.’ Johnson said he would not support a nationwide law similar to Alabama's, which makes performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases and contains no exceptions for cases of rape or incest. Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia recently approved bans on abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can occur in about the sixth week of pregnancy.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/18/19]
Ron Johnson Said He Was Skeptical Of “Fetal Heartbeat” Laws That Ban Abortion As Early As The Sixth Week Of Pregnancy; Said It Was “Pretty Early In The Process.” According to the Chippewa Herald, “Johnson told reporters on Saturday he is opposed to laws as restrictive as Alabama's, and said he is skeptical of ‘fetal heartbeat’ laws that ban abortions as early as the sixth week of pregnancy. ‘That's pretty early in the process,’ Johnson said.” [Chippewa Herald, 5/18/19]