Will County Gazette

The irony of Democratic lawmakers flocking to support House Bill 40 isn’t lost on Pro-Life Action League co-founder Ann Scheidler.

“They’re always claiming to be for the underdog, and you would think the life of an unborn child falls in that category,” Scheidler told the Will County Gazette.

After passing the House in April, HB40 got Senate approval on May 10 and now heads to Gov. Bruce Rauner, who has vowed to veto it. The measure allows Medicaid recipients and state employees to use taxpayer money for elective abortion services and removes language mandating that an unborn child is legally considered a human being. 

Likewise not lost on Scheidler is the fact that Reps. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) and Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) and Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) cast their votes in favor of the measure.

“I believe the wishes of women can be respected and protected without abortions,” Scheidler said. “Supporters of the bill are purposely clouding the language to confuse the issue. Women have the rights to do a lot of things; killing an unborn child is not one of them.”

Meanwhile, a series of recent public opinion polls found that most Americans are strongly opposed to publicly funded abortions, including a Marist Institute survey in which 61 percent of respondents said they are against it, including 40 percent of whom identified as pro-choice.

“This bill does not respect women at all,” Scheidler said. “Those in support of it have been brought about by the likes of Planned Parenthood. Even people for abortion are not in favor of taxpayer-funded abortions.”

Early estimates suggest taxpayers will be on the hook for an additional $60 million if the bill becomes law.

Scheidler is counting on a veto, which Rauner has promised because of the associated cost.

“We’re grateful to the governor for pledging to do what’s right,” she said.

HB40 was introduced by Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), who has insisted her motivations are at least partly fueled by what’s happening at the federal level.

"After repeated threats from the White House and President Trump's remarks to strip abortion rights away from women, this legislation was necessary to safeguard a woman's right to make decisions that affect her personal health in Illinois," she said.