New Director of DHFS Felicia Norwood (right) at Planned Parenthood's April 2014 fundraiser
Last week Governor Rauner announced a number of additional appointments, including those he wants to head the Department of Revenue, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Public Health and Illinois Commerce Commission.
One appointment raising social conservative's eyebrows is Felicia Norwood, who was named by the governor to be the new Director of Illinois' Department Healthcare and Family Services. Norwood, who will lead the state's agency focused on caring for Illinoisans' health, is also listed on Illinois Planned Parenthood's website as the current vice-chair of their board of directors.
Last week, a report on the conditions of Illinois abortions clinics found during Illinois Public Health Department inspections was made public, showing that none of Illinois Planned Parenthood clinics are licensed by the State Health Department, and none of them were visited during the 2011-2012 round of inspections. Of the other 14 clinics visited - some after not being inspected for nine years - 193 safety and health violations were found.
"I'm very disappointed to hear of Governor Rauner's pick for the Department of Health and Family Services," said Illinois Family Institute's David Smith. "Let's hope Ms. Norwood uses her position to encourage healthy families in Illinois. Let's also hope she supports changing the state's policy to include annually inspecting Planned Parenthood clinics."
Norwood could face a conflict of interests if lawmakers point out that the Planned Parenthood clinics, of which she vice-chairs the directors' board, are not licensed nor inspected by the state of Illinois. A call for routine clinic inspections is expected in the upcoming legislative session.
While Mrs. Rauner, the governor's wife, has been a longtime supporter of Planned Parenthood, Rauner avoided the abortion issue while campaigning for governor, and both he and Mrs. Rauner insisted the Republican had "no social agenda."
Despite Norwood's affiliation with Planned Parenthood, she has substantial experience in the health care insurance industry. She has spent the majority of her career working for Aetna. She began her career with the insurance giant as Government Relations Counsel, where she analyzed and drafted legislation related to health care insurance. She was also a Senior Policy Advisory on Health and Human Services to Governor Edgar, and served as a policy advisor to Governor Jim Thompson, where she developed and implemented policies on children and family services.
She earned her law degree from Yale Law School, a master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, and her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Valdosta State University in Georgia.
Since 1994, Ms. Norwood has given over $6000 in political contributions to Planned Parenthood PAC, the Democrats' Act Blue Illinois, Democrats Art Turner and Joyce Washington, as well as Republican Jim Edgar, for whom she worked when he was governor:
