To the Editor:
I am extremely disappointed in the Governor’s decision. The new law requires abortions be paid for with tax dollars for any reason, including sex, race, or imperfection, throughout the full nine months of pregnancy.
HB40 is a radical change to accepted public policy in Illinois and throughout the United States.
It overturns decades of Illinois public policy not to pay for abortions under the Medicaid assistance program except for life of the mother. Nor have Illinois taxpayers had to pay for abortions under the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971.
Survey after survey has shown that a clear majority of Illinoisans, even those who say they are pro-choice, do not want their tax dollars paying for abortions. We also know that the number of abortions will increase under this new law.
In the midst of a fiscal crisis like no other, the Governor has chosen to force taxpayers to spend an estimated $20 million to end the lives of thousands of innocent unborn children through Medicaid-paid abortion services. His priorities are out of balance. He recently made Illinois a sanctuary state with Senate Bill 31 providing more protection to criminal illegal aliens than the unborn and thousands of developmentally-disabled citizens waiting for Medicaid assistance.
The Governor’s decision is completely opposite of the platform adopted by Illinois Republican Party that elected him. He has disgraced the party and the citizens of Illinois. In my opinion, he should not run for re-election.
Kyle McCarter
State Senator