Abortion bill creates new standoff in Illinois Legislature
SPRINGFIELD -- Another fight is brewing at the state Capitol, and this one appears ugly from the onset.
Abortion rights advocates and foes are bracing for another clash in the Illinois House this spring over legislation spelling out that women have certain reproductive rights.
The bill's supporters call it a work in progress that won't necessarily advance this year. But already, the general idea is drawing a backlash from abortion opponents, who fear the true goal is a major expansion of abortion in Illinois.
"They see this as a window of opportunity," said Rep. David Reis, a Willow Hill Republican. "They are really nonstop. But so are we."
Few issues are as polarizing as abortion, and the latest debate demonstrates the mistrust between the two sides before work on the legislation even begins in earnest.
The measure, dubbed the "Reproductive Justice and Access Act," bars state or local governments from interfering with women's access to contraceptives or attempts to have an abortion except in limited circumstances.
Supporters, including Planned Parenthood of Illinois, say it's in response to concerns that a more conservative U.S. Supreme Court could chip away at women's rights to abortions and other key health issues.
"We want to make a clear statement that this state supports a women's right to choose," said Pam Sutherland, Planned Parenthood's executive director.
Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, the House Majority Leader and lead sponsor of the measure, says it's meant simply to protect women from being denied contraception or barred from getting an abortion.
But she acknowledges the measure faces a struggle.
It also would require comprehensive sex education to be taught in schools, which draws heated complaints from some conservative groups and lawmakers.
"Let's wrap it all up in a nice, friendly looking title," Reis said. "But there are just a lot of parents that don't want to have their children exposed to that type of thing at such an early age."
The conservative advocacy group Illinois Family Institute sent out a letter to its members last week urging them to contact lawmakers about opposing the idea.
Among the group's claims are that the legislation would make it impossible to enact abortion restrictions, such as requiring minors to notify their parents before getting an abortion or giving pharmacists the right to refuse to dispense emergency contraception.
The bill "represents a radical and unprecedented departure from current Illinois law regarding abortion, public funding of abortion, health care right of conscience and comprehensive sex education," the group wrote.
Such early opposition is why Currie plans to have a series of hearings this year around the state and says she's willing to make adjustments to address those kind of concerns.
"My guess is that at the end of the day it won't look quite like this," Currie said.
With legislators facing election-year concerns and other priorities, Currie and Sutherland agree the measure might not even advance far this year.
They hope to get past some of tension that surrounds the abortion issue but say they won't back down from critics either.
"I think we can get past the polarization," Sutherland said. "We're in this for the long haul. If it doesn't go this spring, I guarantee we will go at this until we secure support."
Lawmakers who oppose abortion say while they're willing to work to find some kind of middle ground, that could be a tough task.
"I think the lines are pretty well drawn in the sand on most of those issues," said Rep. John Bradley, a Marion Democrat. "I'm not going to change my beliefs."