Democrats in the Illinois House of Representatives are one step closer to expanding women’s access to abortions, regardless of whether or not they can afford to pay for them. On Tuesday, they approved a bill to expand the availability of taxpayer-funded abortions in the state with a 62-55 vote. The controversial bill puts pressure on Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, who has already pledged to veto it should it pass the Senate and make its way to his desk.
Inside the House, lawmakers spent more than two hours debating the measure, which would allow women to use Medicaid coverage and state employee health insurance for abortions. Democrats said the plan also would help ensure abortion remains legal in Illinois if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court by removing a so-called "trigger provision" in current law.
As to be expected, Democrats were met with Republican opposition to the bill. With GOP legislators expressing concerns ranging from biblical beliefs to scientific studies about conception and when life actually begins. One Republican lawmaker went so far as to suggest women would use this to voluntarily choose the sex of the fetus and drew a link between abortion and slavery.
"But no, we're not going to recognize that right to those who can't speak today. They're too small, they're too weak," [Rep. Tom Morrison said.] "And besides, seven U.S. Supreme Court judges said it was legal, so that must make it OK. Just like they said in 1857 when they declared that former slave Dred Scott was not a legal person either."
Huh? Talk about lack of logic. That makes zero sense. And it’s pretty offensive. But not to worry, he was checked pretty quickly by one of his colleagues.
Rep. Christian Mitchell, D-Chicago, called Morrison's comments "the most ignorant and possibly racist thing I've heard in this General Assembly." [...]
"You want to make a comparison between slavery and segregation and the Supreme Court and all of the things that your party has historically stood against, but today, on this bill, suddenly you're a liberal," Mitchell said. "You must be outside of your mind."
The bill makes its way to the Senate next. It is unclear whether it will become law— given that House Democrats do not have the votes to override a veto by Rauner. However, this emerging as an important issue in the Illinois 2018 governor’s race and its impact is far-reaching beyond the bill. It’s great to see Democrats taking advantage of some of the momentum of the Women’s March and the Resistance Movement and pushing for progressive policy on abortion access. Reproductive justice advocates around the country will be closely watching what happens in Illinois over the next few months.