>> SOME DEMOCRATIC ILLINOIS
LAWMAKERS WANT TO EXPAND
ABORTION RIGHTS HERE.
THE SPONSOR OF WHOI ABORTION
BILLS SAYS THE TIMING IS RELATED
TO PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO SEEK
ANTIABORTION SUPREME COURT
NOMINEES.
PARIS SCHUTZ HAS EXCLUSIVE
DETAILS.
PARIS?
>> THERE'S MOVEMENT TO EXPAND
AND PROTECT ABORTION ACCESS FOR
WOMEN IN ILLINOIS IN THE WAKE OF
PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP'S SUPPOSED
STANCE ON THIS ISSUE.
THERE ARE TWO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION THAT THE SPONSOR
SAYS COULD GET VOTED ON AS EARLY
AS NEXT JANUARY.
THERE IS A LOT OF URGENCY.
THE FIRST WOULD EXPAND ABORTION
COVERAGE FOR ILLINOISANS ON THE
STATE'S MEDICAID PLAN THE LOW
INCOME HEALTH PLAN.
AND
APPREHENSIVE FOR A WHOLE HOST OF
REASONS.
DOCTORS ARE VERY BLACK AND
WHITE.
THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
A SERVICE FOR THEIR PATIENTS AND
IT IS A VERY MURKY BODY OF LAW.
AND WE NEED TO CLEAN IT UP.
>> ON THE PARTS OF DOCTORS
BECAUSE THERE IS AN AUDITOR IN
THE MEDICAID SYSTEM THAT AUDITS
WHETHER THE CONDITION OF THE
WOMEN WARRANTS AT BORINGS.
DOCTORS WANT TO KNOW WHETHER
THEY WILL GET REIMBURSED.
RIGHT TO LIFE ILLINOIS SAYS THIS
NEW BILL WOULD CREATE IN THEIR
MINDS AN OASIS WHERE
MIDWESTERNERS WOULD FLOOD TO
ABORTION COVERAGE WHILE THE
PENDULUM IN THE OTHER STATES IS
SWINGING THE OTHER WAY.
>> THIS BILL WILL PROVIDE FREE
ABORTIONS FOR GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES AND FOR THOSE ON
MEDICAID THROUGH OBVIOUSLY NINE
MONTHS OF PREGNANCY EVEN IF THE
UNBORN CHILD CAN SURVIVE OUTSIDE
THE WOMB.
IT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO HAVE
ABORTIONS FOR ANY REASON.
EVEN IF THAT REASON IS THE
PREGNANCY THAT INCONVENIENCE,
AND NOW PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I
WOULD BE FORCED TO PAY FOR THAT
THROUGH OUR TAX DOLLARS.
>> SHE SAID THIS LAW WOULD APPLY
TO THE MEDICAID SYSTEM AND STATE
EMPLOYEES ON THE STATE HEALTH
INSURANCE SYSTEM.
SARA FEIGENHOLTZ THE
REPRESENTATIVE BELIEVES THIS
WOULD NOT ADD COST TO THE
MEDICAID SYSTEM.
>> AS WE MENTIONED WHAT HAPPENS
IN ILLINOIS IF ABORTION RIGHTS
ARE RESTRICTED AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL?
>> THIS IS THE OTHER BILL THAT
IS FLOATING AROUND NOW THAT THE
SPONSOR SAYS COULD GET CALLED IN
JANUARY.
IT DEALS WITH THAT.
ACCORDING TO THE SPONSOR IT
WOULD ABOLISH QUOTE TRIGGER
LANGUAGE THAT MEANS IS IF ROE V.
WADE IS OVERTURNED AND REMANDED
TO THE STATES TO FIGURE OUT BY
ILLINOIS LAW ABORTION AND BIRTH
CONTROL AUTOMATICALLY BECOME
ILLEGAL.
WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS REPEAL
THAT TRIGGER LANGUAGE AND MAKE
SURE ABORTIONS STAY LEGAL IF ROE
V. WADE DOES OVERTURN IT AND
SEND IT BACK TO THE STATES.
>> IN ROE VS. WADE IS OVERTURNED
ON THE SUPREME COURT IT WILL BE
CRIMINALIZED IN ILLINOIS.
IT WILL BE ILLEGAL IMMEDIATELY
TO HAVE ABORTIONS.
ABORTION SERVICES IN ILLINOIS
PERIOD.
SO WE REALLY WANT TO JUST GET
THAT OUT OF THE STATUTE.
IT MEANS THAT THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS AND THE ILLINOIS
LEGISLATURE HAS MADE A STATEMENT
PRO-ACTIVELY THAT WE ARE A SAFE
STATE FOR A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO
CHOOSE.
>> CONVENTIONAL WISDOM SAYS IT
MIGHT BE UNLIKELY THAT THE
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED
STATES REVERSES A LAW DECIDED
FOUR DECADES AGO BUT AN EXPERT
AT KENT COLLEGE OF LAW SHARP
SHARP WHO YOU WILL HEAR IN A BIT
SAYS IF THE MORE LIBERAL
JUSTICES LIKE BRIAR AND GINSBURG
WERE TO LEAVE AND BE REPLACED BY
HARDLINED CONSERVATIVES SHE SAYS
ALL BETS ARE OFF.
AND THE MORE LIKELY AVERAGE NOW
IS THAT THEY WOULD FIND CREATIVE
WAYS TO PUT MORE RESTRICTIONS ON
ABORTION WITHOUT OUTLAWING
ABORTION OUT RIGHT.
THIS DEBATE IS MUTE RIGHT NOW
AND LAWMAKERS SHOULD FOCUS ON
THE BUDGET SITUATION.
>> DOING ANYTHING NOW WHILE
THERE'S STILL A LARGE
HYPOTHETICAL WITH THE TRIGGER
LAWS IS A WASTE OF TIME AND
RESOURCES.
>> AND IN AN INTERESTING WRINKLE
GOVERNOR RAUNER AND HIS WIFE IN
THE PAST SENT MONEY IN SUPPORT
OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS BUT HE
INSISTS HE DOES NOT HAVE A
SOCIAL AGENDA AND WE DO NOT KNOW