Illinois Abortion Bill: Rauner Stays Tight-Lipped On Whether He Will Veto

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner is stringing along concerned constituents and lawmakers regarding whether he'll veto a bill to protect abortion rights in Illinois. The bill seeks to abolish the so-called "trigger law" that would illegalize abortion if Roe v. Wade were overturned by the Supreme Court.

Illinois women won't learn the fate of their reproductive rights until Rauner, pen in hand, receives House Bill 40 on his desk. The governor had formerly pledged to veto the bill, but as of Friday, he has not made further comment.

Recently, Rauner came under fire for hiring a woman who allegedly likened abortion to Nazi eugenics, Sun-Times reported in July.

Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), who cosponsored the bill said in statement, "This measure is too important to immediately put it in the hands of a governor whose public opinions about women’s access to safe, affordable reproductive health care have been inconsistent at best.”

In May, the Illinois Senate approved the bill, which also "bars insurers from refusing to cover reproductive health care for women on Medicaid and state workers on the state’s health insurance plan," a statement from Harmon's office said.

Senators had previously chosen to hold the measure in the hopes that Rauner would, "[come] to his senses."

In a statement made in July, Harmon said,

“I heard Gov. Rauner say at a press conference yesterday that he is a strong supporter of women’s reproductive rights. An easy way for him to turn words into action will be to sign House Bill 40, legislation protecting women’s rights to make their own healthcare decisions."

"In a time when women’s healthcare is under attack at the federal level, this is a chance for the governor to distinguish himself among members of his party. I hope he lives up to his statement of support and signs House Bill 40 when it reaches his desk."

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