Sen. Grothman blasted over bill that connects single parenthood to child abuse
Sen. Glenn Grothman (R.-West Bend) has been scheduled to join Newsradio 620 WTMJ's "Wisconsin's Morning News" at 7:25 a.m. Click here to listen live.
MADISON- State Senator Glenn Grothman says women need to be educated that unplanned pregnancies are a mistake.
He's standing behind the statement and a lot of women's rights groups, including Planned Parenthood are not. They say it's part of an overall attack on women's health, and they won't stand for it.
State Sen. Grothman is caught in a firestorm of controversy over his position on single parenthood. A bill he introduced would formally consider single parenthood a contributing factor in child abuse.
"We're not penalizing anybody. All we're doing is looking to educate the public," said state Sen. Grothman.
Women's groups are calling it an education in sexist politics -- as the majority of single parents are women.
Tanya Atkinson, the executive director of Planned Parenthood told TODAY'S TMJ4, "Women are really really getting fed up by all of this kind of legislation, they want it to stop and we're seeing them really raise up their voices."
The bill, which is co-sponsored by Representative Don Pridemore, would also "emphasize the role of fathers in the primary prevention of child abuse."
"I think most of those mothers would find they could do a better job if they were married to the father of their children," said state Sen. Grothman.
Dana Schultz works with 9to5, a grassroots organization helping women in the workplace. "We need caps and gowns, not wedding gowns. We need to focus on job training," said Dana Schultz
Grothman argues the bill would help children, claiming those of single parent households are more likely to be the victims of abuse. "It is a 1950's view and I'll tell you I think in the 1950's we had a lot less problems than today."
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