Wisconsin's New Abortion Restrictions Spark Immediate Lawsuit

Requirements for hospital admitting privileges will cut abortion providers by half

Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill Friday requiring doctors who perform abortions to have hospital admitting privileges, and abortion clinics responded by immediately suing state officials over the measure.

The law — signed Friday by Walker in a private ceremony — would cut the number of clinics offering abortions in Wisconsin from four to two, and one of the remaining clinics would have to dramatically cut the number of abortions it provides, according to the operators of the clinics.

"When women don't have access to safe, legal abortions, there are health consequences and women die," said Teri Huyck, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.

Backers of the law, which also requires women seeking abortions to get ultrasounds, said they were not worried about the lawsuit.

"We are confident this bill will be held to be constitutional," said Susan Armacost, legislative director for Wisconsin Right to Life.