In April, Governor Rauner said he would veto the measure. Last week he told reporters he was now undecided. He's been talking to abortion advocates - including his wife Diana - and now pro-lifers are concerned the Republican governor could sign HB 40 into law.
State Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington) responded immediately, pointing out the governor's past broken promises.
"In 2014, Bruce Rauner promised Illinois taxpayers a tax cut and a 3% income tax rate. Instead, we ended up with a 32% increase in the income tax rate," McSweeney said. "On April 14th, Governor Rauner promised Illinois citizens he would veto HB 40, which would expand state funding for abortions. I sure hope that Governor Rauner actually keeps this promise." Click here for more from Illinois Review
Action:
-Contact Governor Rauner, thank him for his promise to VETO HB40.
-Urge Gov. Rauner to keep his promise and VETO HB 40
Click here to contact Governor Rauner.
Click here for more information on this bill.+
More on House Bill 40...
This bill has the potential to reverse almost every pro-life effort made in Illinois and will protect abortion if regulated, defunded or outlawed federally.
Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971.
-Removes a provision prohibiting the non-contributory portion of a program of health-benefits from including the expenses of obtaining an abortion. (If passed, the State Employee's Insurance would cover the expenses of an abortion.).
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code.
-Removes a provision excluding abortions or induced miscarriages or premature births from the list of services provided under the State's medical assistance program. (If passed, public aid would cover abortions or "induced miscarriages".)
-Removes language providing for the adoption of rules to prohibit a physician from providing medical assistance to anyone eligible for medical assistance benefits if the physician has been found guilty of willfully and wantonly performing an abortion procedure upon a woman who was not pregnant at the time of the procedure. (If passed, a doctor would not be stopped from performing medical services including an abortion even if he/she had been found guilty of performing an unwanted abortion procedure.)
-Removes other provisions concerning abortion restrictions. (If passed, this would remove the requirement for a physician statement the procedure used for an abortion when requesting reimbursement for the abortion, "induced miscarriages" or premature births. This also removes the need to include the physicians opinion regarding the abortion.)
Amends the Problem Pregnancy Health Services and Care Act.
-Removes language prohibiting the Department of Human Services from making grants to nonprofit agencies and organizations that use such grants to refer or counsel for, or perform, abortions. (If passed, the Department of Human Services would be allowed to provide money or grants to organizations or companies that perform abortions.)
Amends the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975.
-Provides that it is the intention of the General Assembly to reasonably regulate abortion in conformance with the legal standards set forth in the decisions of the United States Supreme Court of January 22, 1973. (If passed, this would keep abortion legal if the Roe Vs. Wade Decision is reversed)
-Removes language concerning the General Assembly's declaration that the unborn child is a human being from the time of conception and is, therefore, a legal person for purposes of the unborn child's right to life. (If passed, this means that an unborn child would NOT be considered a human being and so the unborn child does NOT have the right to life.)
