MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican lawmakers and University of Wisconsin officials are sparring over a bill that ends an arrangement allowing UW doctors to train to perform abortions at a Planned Parenthood clinic.
The bill's chief sponsor, Sen. Andre Jacque, argued during a hearing before the Senate's families and children committee on Wednesday that the deal violates state law prohibiting taxpayer-funded abortions.
Robert Golden, dean of the UW medical school, countered that ending the arrangement would result in the school's obstetrics-gynecology program losing its federal accreditation and that would-be gynecologists will enroll elsewhere.
He says that would exacerbate a shortage of gynecologists in Wisconsin. The committee is not expected to vote on the bill.
