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Tribune News Service

Politics

Alexandra Kukulka

In Illinois, legislative candidates have divergent views on abortion

Abortion Illinois Health Care Republican JB Pritzker Justin Slaughter Nick Smith Chicago Pregnancy

CHICAGO — The overturning of Roe v. Wade paved the way for states to pass their own abortion laws, and while Illinois law continues to allow abortions, legislative candidates bring divergent views.

Illinois has the most protected access to abortion in the Midwest as Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky and Missouri have laws restricting access to the procedure. Following the Supreme Court decision to overturn the nearly 50-year precedent, out-of-state patients seeking abortions in Illinois have tripled, officials with Planned Parenthood of Illinois have said.

Southland state representative candidates responding to a Daily Southtown questionnaire showed Democratic candidates stating women should have the right to make their own health care decisions and Republican candidates agreeing not much will change because of the Democratic supermajority in Springfield.

“The Supreme Court action did not change anything related to health care access in Illinois law,” wrote Jackie Haas, the Republican candidate in the 79th House District. “Illinois continues to have some of the most unrestricted laws regarding abortion access, that won’t change despite what’s happening at the federal level.”

While Republican candidates stated they are anti-abortion and Democratic candidates said they are pro-abortion rights, the majority of candidates said they supported allowing abortion in cases of rape or incest or if the mother’s life is in danger, but did not specify at what term in pregnancy.

Republican candidates Tom Toolis, Patricia Bonk and Beth O’Neil all wrote they oppose abortion except for instances of rape or incest or the life of the mother is in danger. Bonk said she would support legislation to increase funding for education and access to birth control.

“I feel strongly that once a heartbeat is detected God has this life and as hard as it may be there are options as adoption,” O’Neil wrote. “I personally have a dear friend who wants a baby with all her heart and can’t have one. She would give the world to adopt a baby.”

Democratic Rep. Frances Ann Hurley said she supports legislation that allows for a woman to make decisions without government interference.

“I support legislation that ensures a woman has the right to make her own decisions about her body and reproductive care,” Hurley wrote. “I would fully evaluate future legislation with input from all stakeholders with the overall goal of protecting a woman’s right to choose.”

The majority of Democratic candidates mentioned their support for the Reproductive Health Act, while the majority of Republican candidates mentioned their disappointment with the repeal of the Parental Notification Act of 1995.

Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the law in 2019, which outlines “the fundamental right of an individual who becomes pregnant to continue the pregnancy and give birth to a child, or to have an abortion, and to make autonomous decisions about how to exercise that right.”

In 2021, Pritzker signed a law repealing the Parental Notification Act, which required doctors to notify a pregnant minor’s parent up to 48 hours before the abortion.

Democratic Rep. Anthony DeLuca said he supported the Reproductive Health Act “to ensure if the Supreme Court did overturn Roe v. Wade, abortion services would remain legal in Illinois.”

“Illinois has strong laws on the books when it comes to protecting women’s choice and her ability to make her own decisions. I would give full consideration to future legislation with input from experts in the medical field,” DeLuca wrote.

On his Facebook page, DeLuca’s opponent, Republican candidate Al Kuypers Sr., said he’s opposed to eliminating “all rights for unborn babies.” Kuypers did not respond to the questionnaire.

Democratic Rep. Nick Smith said he supported the Reproductive Health Act to protect reproductive health care access, and he’d also support legislation to protect health care providers from legal action and to support out-of-state patients.

Smith also said he was in favor of repealing the parental notification law because it “puts women and children in danger of having to reveal a pregnancy to a potential abuser or estranged family member” while creating a barrier to medical care.

Toolis said he supports parental notification law because parents have a “right to know about medical procedures for their children.” Haas agreed, saying she advocates for parental empowerment.

“Parents deserve the right to know if their minor child is seeking any major medical procedure, especially one like an abortion where there can be serious short- and long-term consequences,” Haas wrote.

Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin, a Democrat, said she was initially “troubled” about repealing the parental notification law, but after talking to several social workers and counselors she’s learned “there are many situations where the mandate of parent notification is dangerous to young women so I do support it.”

Meyers-Martin said the government should not interfere with a person’s right to make a medical decision. She said she’d write or support legislation stating “that every woman has the right to decide, in consultation with her doctor, if she wants to terminate a pregnancy.”

“We trust women to make the best decision for herself and her family. Government should have no role in that medical decision,” Meyers-Martin wrote.

But Meyers-Martin said she’d also like to see statistics and data “that support when it is inadvisable to proceed with an abortion, and somehow incorporate that data in the legislation.”

Meyers-Martin also said she’d also support state funding for abortions because it is a medical procedure that should be covered by Medicaid or other public insurance.

Rep. Mary E. Flowers, a Democrat, said a “one size fits all” approach to legislation does not work, but that she has “supported legislation ensuring access to the full continuum of reproductive care is not restricted by income level.”

Flowers said access to abortion in Illinois is not up for debate, so state legislators need to focus on rebuilding the state’s economy and health care delivery system.

“Access to high-quality maternity care and mental health services are no less important than access to abortion. National conversations about abortion should not distract us from designing solutions for a better healthcare system in Illinois,” Flowers said.

For example, Flowers said she proposed a bill that would ensure women have access to the full continuum of health care. The bill also creates penalties for health care providers who disclose a pregnant patient’s health care information to child protection or law enforcement agents without consent.

“Every patient in Illinois has the right to privacy and confidentiality when they receive healthcare. Patient rights do not diminish when they become pregnant,” Flowers wrote.

Democrat Erin Slone said she would support funding for programs such as Planned Parenthood, which provide critical health care services for women.

“We cannot know all of the many personal and medical circumstances behind someone’s decision to have an abortion. Every situation is different. The choice belongs solely to the woman,” Slone said.

Democratic representative Justin Slaughter did not respond to the questionnaire, but he was endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Illinois Action as a reproductive health champion in the 2022 primary election.

Democratic representatives Thaddeus Jones and Kelly M. Burke did not return questionnaires, but both voted “present” on the Reproductive Health Act in 2019. Democrats Marcus C. Evans Jr. and William Davis also didn’t respond, though each voted yes for the act.

Republican candidates Jeffery Coleman, Quintin Barton, Frederick L. Walls and David Sheppard did not respond to the questionnaire.

Republican Kenneth J. Yerkes did not respond, but took to Twitter in October to share his thoughts on abortion with hashtags: parental rights, parental notification and stop state funding of abortions.

Republican Herb Hebein, who also did not respond, lists “pro-life” on his campaign website as an issue he’s focused on.

State House candidates

Residents can learn which legislative district they are in, along with their voter registration status and polling place, at the following links.

For suburban Cook County: www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/elections/your-voter-information

For Will County: www.willcountyclerk.gov/elections/voter-services/#myinfo

For city of Chicago: chicagoelections.gov/en/your-voter-information.html

27th District

Democrat: Rep. Justin Slaughter

Republican: Beth O’Neil

29th District

Democrat: Rep. Thaddeus Jones

Republican: Jeffery Coleman