Access to abortion is essentially locked down in Illinois. But Democrats are looking for ways to further protect the practice and its availability, including to outsiders who potentially face home-state penalties for seeking treatment here.
Legislation approved by both houses of the General Assembly include requiring Illinois insurers to cover abortion-inducing drugs, penalizing crisis pregnancy centers if they distribute inaccurate information and requiring colleges to offer reduced-price emergency contraception on campus.
“We’re saying, no matter what they do to you, you’re going to be safe here,” said Cassidy, a Chicago Democrat. “I’m not talking to the politicians doing this, I have nothing to say to them. I’m talking to the people that they’re victimizing. And I want to do everything in my power to make sure that we can keep them as safe as possible.”
The centers, nonprofit and often faith-based, offer services such as ultrasounds, counseling clients and providing diapers and formula. There are about 100 such centers in Illinois. Nationally, they far outnumber abortion clinics, and their influence is growing. Ralph Rivera, legislative chairman for Illinois Right to Life, said such information hasn’t been debunked, but is based on studies that have reached differing conclusions than ones highlighted by abortion-rights advocates.
The pregnancy centers have won in court before. A 2016 law requiring them to provide information on where clients could get an abortion was halted by a federal appeals court and still awaits trial court argument. But the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2018 that a similar law in California was unconstitutional.
Rep. Ann Williams, another Chicago Democrat, received House endorsement last week for requiring other states to pledge in interstate agreements not to use automatic license plate-reading technology to snare potential abortion patients leaving the state.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Illinois Democrats say abortion-access protections are a promise: 'You're safe here'Illinois is more protective of abortion access than most any state. But Democrats are looking for ways to bolster its practice and availability.
Read more »
Illinois girl's discovery leads to new legislation protecting children in social media videosA haunting discovery by a young Illinois girl has led to new state legislation.
Read more »
Tim McGraw Added as Headliner in 2023 Illinois State Fair Grandstand LineupTim McGraw has been added to the Illinois State Fair grandstand concert lineup, organizers announced Tuesday.
Read more »
Elmhurst resident confirmed federal district court judge in Northern District of Illinois by U.S. SenateElmhurst resident LaShonda Hunt, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate May 5, was nominated to be a federal district judge after Sens. Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth recommended her to the White House.
Read more »
Illinois Lawmakers Work to Iron Out Budget Agreement in Session’s Final WeekIllinois legislators have through Friday to accomplish their most important task: passing a budget. Here's AmandaVinicky on the latest from Springfield.
Read more »
2 seriously injured in Eisenhower Expressway shooting on West Side: Illinois State Police | LIVEIllinois State Police said traffic is being diverted off the highway at Harlem Avenue.
Read more »