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Rauner charts common-sense path on choice

Last week Gov. Bruce Rauner, a pro-choice Republican who has consistently stood up for women's rights, was attacked by partisan groups with a misinformation campaign intended to deceive and distract. In the process, these groups showed that they care more about politics than protecting women's rights.

Bruce Rauner ran for governor as a pro-choice Republican who did not have a social agenda, as someone who would protect reproductive freedom and defend health care options for women. He has kept that promise.

Last year, Gov. Rauner even bucked his own party, signing two bills that expanded birth control coverage and access to abortion. Newspapers reported the governor had "distinguished himself from more conservative politicians" who have sought to undermine our health care options. Every Republican in the legislature opposed these bills, but Rauner kept his promise and signed them.

Gov. Rauner, along with his wife Diana Rauner, have also long financially supported groups like Planned Parenthood that provide critical health services. And they continue their support today.

Last week, Personal PAC, which spent millions to support the election campaign of Gov. Pat Quinn, attacked Gov. Rauner for announcing that he would veto House Bill 40, a bill that includes a provision forcing all taxpayers to pay for abortion services.

Illinois already has one of the most pro-choice laws of any state regarding taxpayer-funded abortions. We are one of 17 states that goes beyond federal law to allow for taxpayer-funded abortions in cases where a mother's health is at risk, as well as the life of the mother.

The new legislation, HB 40 which expands taxpayers' funding of abortions, passed the Illinois House on a mostly partisan vote. It is clear this bill is a political tool to frighten women and attack Gov. Rauner's strong support of women's rights.

In recognition of the deep divide in our society over taxpayer-funded abortion, Gov. Rauner signaled he would veto a bill that included publicly-funded abortion if it were to reach his desk. Gov. Rauner drew the line at expanding taxpayer-funded abortions, and I believe most Illinoisans agree.

You can be pro-choice, support pro-choice policies, and still respect the beliefs of people on the other side who strongly oppose taxpayer funding of abortions.

Gov. Rauner has charted a common-sense path on choice.

Personal PAC and other groups attacking Gov. Rauner set back the cause of reproductive rights by allowing partisan politics to intrude on bipartisan problem solving. The important goal of protecting existing rights is unmet, and there is no space for an honest dialogue about how to advance a difficult and divisive issue.

Those of us who consider ourselves pro-choice are grateful to have bipartisan support for reproductive freedom in Illinois. And those of us who want to protect these rights here and across the country should want the cause of reproductive freedom embraced by Republicans and Democrats alike.

If the choice movement wants to grow, it should support, not attack, a Republican governor who has already proved he is willing to buck his party to expand choice.

When pro-choice groups become intensely partisan, they create a disincentive for the cooperation and bipartisanship needed to defend women's health care. When they attack allies, they harm their own cause.

I thank Gov. Rauner for his commitment to defending our health care options, and I know that he will continue to be a stalwart for women's rights. It's time to stop playing politics with women's lives.

Corrine Wood, a Republican from Lake Forest, was Illinois lieutenant governor from 1999 to 2003. Today, she serves on several foundation and public policy boards including Change Illinois, University of Chicago Harris Public Policy School, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs and others.

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