SPRINGFIELD – While the majority in the Illinois Senate and House leads an effort to force Illinois taxpayers to pay for ending lives of the state's next generation, states to the east and west, are closing Planned Parenthood clinics.
State Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-West Dundee) says the passage of HB 40 – a measure that would force state taxpayers to fully fund Medicaid and state employee abortions – sets Illinois in direct conflict with the national trend away from abortion. He says with the state being in such dire financial straits, the measure will not only offend morally-conscious taxpayers, but deny others are dependent on state programs for their needs.
"Nationally, the pro-life movement has seen some victories and is gaining momentum. Justice Gorsuch and President Trump bring us hope," Skillicorn said. "Illinois is a different case. HB40's passing the Illinois House would allow Medicaid funding for elective abortions, previously prohibited by Illinois law. If it becomes law, the vast majority of Illinois abortions will be paid for by you and me – to the tune of up to $60 Million per year.
"That's right, Illinois is $13 Billion behind in back bills and HB40 will gut services even deeper to fund the abortion industry. This is extremely disappointing. Morally-conscious taxpayers would be in a position of either 1. funding abortion with the fruits of their labor, 2. avoiding paying taxes, or 3. leaving the state," Skillicorn said.
"What a bad precedent. Shame on the Illinois politicians who voted for this."
In Iowa, the governor signed into law a measure defunding Planned Parenthoods in Iowa – pushing more women and girls to cross the state line into Illinois, costing taxpayers even more.
Penny Pullen's newsletter Life Advocacy Briefing explained what happened this week in Iowa:
It took only seven days for the Iowa legislature to respond to the law signed by President Trump last month to revoke the Obama regulation barring states from excluding Planned Parenthood from their Title X (Ten) programs.
Included in the $1.77 billion state health and social service budget, which passed along party lines, reports Steve Weatherbe for LifeSiteNews.com, was a provision which “denies state family planning funds to organizations doing abortions. Because Medicaid spending in this area is tied to state allocations,” he writes, “the defunding will cost the state nearly $3 million in federal money.”
But Republican Sen. Amy Sinclair was quick to assure, notes Mr. Weatherbe, “that health care would still be provided ‘in a way that is balanced with the needs and the concerns and the conscientious objections of those taxpayers that we represent who are frankly offended to their very soul by the intentional and unnecessary termination of the life of another human being.’”
The lawmakers behind the disqualification “listed 47 federally qualified health centers and 170 rural health clinics” that Iowa “patients can use instead,” writes Mr. Weatherbe.
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, through spokesman Rachel Lopez, said, reports LifeSiteNews, “the Republicans ‘should be ashamed of themselves. They are playing games, with the lives of low-income Iowans at stake.’”
But Jenifer Bowen, head of Iowa Right to Life, was also quoted in the LifeSiteNews story, which notes “this is the first time in decades … that the state has had a pro-life Senate, House and governor at the same time. ‘It’s been great to watch them work,’ [Ms. Bowen] told LifeSiteNews. ‘Americans are just sick and tired of bankrolling the abortion industry.’”
In Illinois, the Democrat majority in the House and Senate passed a measure over the past few weeks that would force taxpayers to pay for Medicaid and state employee abortions. The bill has yet to be sent to the governor, who is sending mixed messages about whether he is going to fully or amendatory veto the effort.
