Republicans should reject abortion extremists

In 1970, a Republican Congressman from Texas and future President, George H.W. Bush, sponsored the Title X legislation that provided the first funding for the important health care services of Planned Parenthood. Republican President Richard Nixon signed that Planned Parenthood legislation into law because both Republicans understood the importance of reproductive health care, "Title X Funding History").

Republicans have always stood for smaller government and keeping government out of our personal medical decisions. In a recent public opinion survey of Illinois voters, 58 percent of Illinois Republicans stated they believe that abortion should be a private decision between a woman and her doctor. The number of pro-choice Republicans is even greater in Cook and the collar counties.

Women have abortions for many different reasons. Whether we agree, or even if we disagree, it is better that each woman be able to make her own decision rather than have politicians make it for her. We also know that when abortion is illegal and not accessible, many women have no safe place to go for help. Making abortion illegal doesn't stop it from happening, it just makes it dangerous.

There are many extreme Republicans running for the Illinois House and Senate in the November election and we hope moderate mainstream Republicans join us in refusing to vote for these Republicans who are working to make abortion illegal in Illinois, with no exceptions for victims of rape and incest (HB 4114). If these extreme Republicans want fewer abortions, it makes no sense that they refuse to join moderate Republicans who are working to reduce the need for abortion by supporting access to family planning and medically accurate sexuality education. Please join us in refusing to vote for anyone who wants politicians making our most personal decisions rather than women and their families.

Marcie Love, Winnetka

Dee Beaubien, Barrington

Republican Mainstream Committee Co-Chairs