HB 40 react rolls in
Wednesday, Apr 19, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a statement by Personal PAC’s Terry Cosgrove…
…Governor Rauner’s veto of HB 40 would completely betray the trust of everyone in Illinois.
In politics and in life, you are only as good as your word…especially when that word is followed by a signature.
Personal PAC’s questionnaire is a contract of trust and how we the people can hold candidates and elected officials accountable.
Governor Rauner’s intention to veto HB 40 after submitting Personal PAC’s 2014 Questionnaire is not only dishonest, it defrauds every voter who took him at his word and mistakenly believed him to be an honest man.
The only ethical way for Governor Rauner to move forward as the leader of this great state is to honor his 2014 commitment to the voters of Illinois and publicly state TODAY that he will sign HB 40 when it reaches his desk.
Rauner’s 2014 Personal PAC questionnaire is here.
* Cardinal Cupich…
“Last Friday, Governor Rauner promised to veto House Bill 40. This legislation, which is pending in the General Assembly, would use public dollars, through Illinois’ Medicaid and employee health insurance programs, to fund elective abortions at any stage of pregnancy for any reason. I thank him for this principled stand. Abortion is a controversial issue in this country, but using public money to provide abortions should not be. The federal government prohibits the practice, and polls show a substantial segment of the American public rejects it.
“I pray that this divisive issue will be put behind us and our government officials will now concentrate on the many difficult challenges facing Illinois. Most importantly, our political leaders must find a way to cooperate and craft a budget that serves all our people. It is essential that we unite in this effort, and I stand ready to help in any way.”
* Ameya Pawar…
“Bruce Rauner is a liar. As a candidate for governor, he said he was pro-choice. Now he says he will veto HB40, a pro-choice bill to provide women access to affordable health care plans that include coverage for abortions.
“We need leaders in government who won’t use women’s rights to score political points when it seems most convenient.
“People are sick and tired of rich men like Bruce Rauner and Donald Trump telling women what they can and cannot do with their bodies. If we say we have family values we have to start valuing families.
“As governor, I will always defend a woman’s right to choose and will fight to provide access to affordable comprehensive health care to urban and rural communities across the state.”
* Illinois Right to Life…
Today, well-funded, pro-abortion lobbyists are publicly chastising Governor Rauner for stating he would veto HB 40 should it reach his desk. Illinois Right to Life applauds Governor Rauner for opposing the extreme and out-of-touch HB 40.
For approximately 36 years, Illinois has covered abortions in cases of rape, incest, and where the health and life of the mother are threatened. In its current form, House Bill 40 expands Medicaid coverage for all abortions.
House Bill 40 requires Illinois citizens to pay for abortions for state employees and for women on Medicaid, through the full nine months of pregnancy, for any reason. This bill would force Illinois to provide free abortions to a mother whose unborn child’s heart is beating, who can feel the pain of being dismembered, and can potentially survive outside the womb.
Furthermore, HB 40 includes no restrictions, allowing for free abortions of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome and for reasons of birth control, and does not limit the number of abortions a woman can have.
“The majority of Illinoisans agree that providing free abortions for any reason for state employees and for those on Medicaid is outrageous,” said Emily Troscinski, executive director of Illinois Right to Life. “We applaud Governor Rauner for representing the people of our state by opposing this bill that could cost taxpayers millions of dollars by providing free abortions for any reason, including those abortions in which the unborn child can feel the pain of being dismembered.
“Crain’s Chicago Business reported that Illinois has become an ‘oasis for women’ seeking abortions in the Midwest. With HB 40, Illinois could see an increase of 12,000 abortions per year, all at the taxpayers’ expense.”
Troscinski added, “The people of Illinois sent Governor Rauner to Springfield to fix our broken and despairing state. Illinois citizens know that spending millions of dollars to provide free abortions for reasons of birth control doesn’t solve our state’s debt crisis. We applaud Governor Rauner, who is considered pro-choice, for representing the majority of Illinoisans by opposing this bill.”
* From JB Pritzker’s post on Medium…
Bruce Rauner should be ashamed of himself. He told voters in 2014 that he was “pro-choice” and that he would protect women’s access to healthcare, but last week he proved he didn’t tell voters the truth when he said he would veto House Bill 40.
HB 40 would provide safe access to healthcare for women on state employee health insurance and Medicaid, and it would also remove a “trigger provision” from state law that would make abortions illegal in Illinois if Roe v. Wade is ever overturned. […]
This is not just about access to healthcare, this is about a woman’s right to make her own decisions about her body. That’s not a decision that Donald Trump or Bruce Rauner or any other politician should make. It’s a decision that should be left to a woman, her family, her faith, and her doctor. […]
As your governor, I will always fight for Illinois women and families, and I’ll stand up against Donald Trump’s effort to limit women’s healthcare. Unlike Bruce Rauner, I’ll champion women’s health and sign HB 40.
- Keyrock - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 3:45 pm:
Honeybear’s favorite word comes to mind: “perfidy.”
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 3:48 pm:
Lol. Look at the Constitution. How can you force me, the taxpayer, to pay for an elective medical procedure? I’m as pro choice as they come but I refuse to subsidize the procedure, especially in the third trimester.
Where y’all Constitutionists out there
- Frondolet - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 3:49 pm:
A Democrat move to distract from the real, huge fiscal problems they have wrought upon the state that Rainer is trying to solve.
- Downstate Illinois - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 3:51 pm:
Abortion isn’t healthcare. It’s murder.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 3:52 pm:
To the Post,
Blase Cardinal Cupich has a clear, concise, and thoughtful response to the issue and the Adminstration, should they choose to actually veto HB40, in the end, the Cardinal added this…
===“I pray that this divisive issue will be put behind us and our government officials will now concentrate on the many difficult challenges facing Illinois. Most importantly, our political leaders must find a way to cooperate and craft a budget that serves all our people. It is essential that we unite in this effort, and I stand ready to help in any way.”===
The Rauner Administration may owe Catholic Charites tens of thousands of dollars, and let’s not forget then Archbishop Cupich’s remarks, pointing to Pope Francis on Labor.
I don’t think that last paragraph is an accident.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 3:56 pm:
No JB and Ameya, this has nothing to do with the Governor being pro choice.
It has everything to do with a radical expansion of of state taxpayer funding of abortion that only 4 states currently voluntarily provide.
Hawaii, Maryland, New York and Washington. Even liberal California and Massachusetts do not do this.
Who are the radicals really? You and the supporters of this bill or Governor Rauner?
- Saluki - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:01 pm:
This makes the 4th time in 2 years I am proud of the actions of Bruce Rauner.
- Graduated College Student - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:02 pm:
===Lol. Look at the Constitution. How can you force me, the taxpayer, to pay for an elective medical procedure? I’m as pro choice as they come but I refuse to subsidize the procedure, especially in the third trimester.===
So you’d rather pay for a lifetime’s worth of subsidies and various public programs for the fetus.
Look, if you want to get state spending under control, I’ve got news for you-state-subsidized abortion is a huge money-saver.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:03 pm:
Ironic comment of the year from Ameya Pawar-
while proceeding to use a radical expansion of taxpayer funded abortion to score political points (as if opposing HB 40) means the Governor wants to ban abortion.
“We need leaders in government who won’t use women’s rights to score political points when it seems most convenient.”
Look in the mirror dude and practice what you preach!
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:04 pm:
This veto by Rauner is a direct repudiation of both Bruce’s and Diana’s word on Bruve having “no social agenda”
Terry Cosgrove might remind suburban women months from now, when both Rauner’s might try to have it both ways, when Bruce walked away from his own responses written on that questionnaire.
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
Illinois Right to Life: “What Cardinal Cupich said.”
Fixed it for you.
- Winnin' - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
Trump said he was Pro Choice too.
Neither Trump nor Rauner lose any sleep being deceptive.
It’s what they do. And always will do.
- Keyrock - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:08 pm:
The position of each side on this issue deserves respect. But this was a key issue to many voters in the last election. Bruce’s flip-flop on this issue isn’t because circumstances in the world changed, or because his policy views have evolved. It’s based on naked political considerations on what most see as an issue of principle. It’s particularly nasty because the lack of a social agenda was one of the core messages of his campaign.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:11 pm:
==So you’d rather pay for a lifetime’s worth of subsidies and various public programs for the fetus.
Look, if you want to get state spending under control, I’ve got news for you-state-subsidized abortion is a huge money-saver.==
IUD and plan b. Far cheaper health wise and easier on the mother.
- Colby jack - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:11 pm:
So you’d rather pay for a lifetime’s worth of subsidies and various public programs for the fetus.
Red herring. Why does it have to be one or the other? There is a third option, known by most as self-reliance.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:12 pm:
–Who are the radicals really? You and the supporters of this bill or Governor Rauner?–
Which Rauner are you talking about? Not this one, apparently.
–The protections offered by HB 40 are so common sense, then candidate for Governor, Bruce Rauner, pledged his full support. Governor Rauner agreed in writing with his originally signed and dated “2014 Illinois Gubernatorial Candidate Questionnaire” to support all three components of HB 40:
#1) Repeal of the “trigger” law that will prevent abortion from becoming illegal in Illinois when Roe v. Wade is overturned.
#2) Repeal of the Illinois Medicaid restriction on abortion and ending the irrational denial of basic health care to the most vulnerable women in our state.
#3) Repeal of the prohibition on state employee health insurance covering abortion care so that state employees have the same coverage as employees at Cook County, City of Chicago, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, University of Illinois students, among others.
Here are some direct written quotes from Governor Rauner’s 2014 questionnaire:
“I fundamentally believe that abortion should be a woman’s private decision…and that this decision should not be impeded by government”
“This principle should apply to all women, regardless of income level or location of residency.”
“As governor, I will work for equal access to contraception and abortion services.”
“I dislike the Illinois law that restricts abortion coverage under the state Medicaid plan and state employees’ health insurance because I believe it unfairly restricts access based on income. I would support a legislative effort to reverse that law.”
- MissingG - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:13 pm:
Wouldn’t it be cool if like, women and their doctors decided this stuff and the health insurance companies, just, like, paid for whatever the women and their doctors decide to do?
- JoeMaddon - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:14 pm:
**Lol. Look at the Constitution. How can you force me, the taxpayer, to pay for an elective medical procedure? **
I’m forced to pay for all kinds of “elective” things.
- Graduated College Student - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:17 pm:
===Red herring. Why does it have to be one or the other? There is a third option, known by most as self-reliance. ===
Fine, let me rephrase. You want to pay for public education and possible other entitlement programs as needed (even for people who do work)?
Also the “self-reliance” canard doesn’t exactly address rape and incest.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:18 pm:
–Lol. Look at the Constitution.–
What are you talking about?
- Colby jack - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:19 pm:
“I dislike the Illinois law that restricts abortion coverage under the state Medicaid plan and state employees’ health insurance because I believe it unfairly restricts access based on income. I would support a legislative effort to reverse that law.”
I guess “evolving” is only a valid excuse when moving from right to left, and not vice-versa.
- Grand Avenue - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:19 pm:
Terry’s going to go nuclear on Rauner next year - mail and TV up the wazoo. Rich rightly gave Terry a lot of credit in making PQ’s 2010 win happen - Quinn never did much mail so Personal PAC was his mail game - targeted to suburban women.
- Ratso Rizzo - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:20 pm:
===MissingG - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:13 pm:
Wouldn’t it be cool if like, women and their doctors decided this stuff and the health insurance companies, just, like, paid for whatever the women and their doctors decide to do?===
EXACTLY. Why are men always trying to control the bodies and curtail the rights of women?
- Grand Avenue - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:21 pm:
Here’s Rich’s 2010 article on Personal PAC’s role in Quinn’s victory that year
http://www.navigatorjournal.com/opinion/article_817760e9-456f-5d32-b643-609b66abb551.html
- jw - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:22 pm:
College student at 4 02 you tell them. Also how about destroyed lives of young girls not being able to get an education. If only we had child care programs.
- Keyrock - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:24 pm:
Evolving understanding of difficult issues of policy and principle does work both ways, Colbyjack. That doesn’t seem to be what’s happened with Gov. Rauner, however.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:25 pm:
–Wouldn’t it be cool if like, women and their doctors decided this stuff and the health insurance companies, just, like, paid for whatever the women and their doctors decide to do?–
Wow, that’s a slippery slope. I guess we don’t need exclusions in health insurance anymore. The policy forms just got a lot shorter.
- Colby jack - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:25 pm:
Also the “self-reliance” canard doesn’t exactly address rape and incest.
And an amended bill or veto will restrict neither
- A guy - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 4:25 pm:
I’m with the Cardinal on this one. Illinois Right to Life put forth a rational response as well. The portion of HB 40 that enables publicly paid abortions is easy to remove, as it was only cynically placed there in the first place. Memo to Cosgrove: the Governor is tasked with the interests of everyone in Illinois, not just you and your questionnaire. Is there really money laying around somewhere to add more burden to Medicaid? This aspect of the bill is in search of a solution that doesn’t have an existing problem. Getting this procedure is not financially burdensome. There are millions of cases providing evidence.
- ste_with_a_v_en - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 5:58 pm:
First of all, the Illinois trigger law is a statement of policy and there is no way to actually enforce it. And this would only happen if the Supreme Court overrules over 40 years of precedent. It’s not just Roe v. Wade, its 5 Supreme Court decisions that have upheld the constitutionality of abortion. Mind you this bill hasn’t even left the house yet. However, Gov. Rauner said he would veto it.This same guy who is going to a Planned Parenthood fundraiser and donated $50,000 while other members of the party compare PP to Satan. This is ploy by the Dems, plain and simple.
- ste_with_a_v_en - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 6:00 pm:
Supporting the right to an abortion doesn’t mean that state should pay for one.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 6:08 pm:
–Supporting the right to an abortion doesn’t mean that state should pay for one.–
For crying out loud, read the answers and statements that Rauner provided to Personal PAC. The link is in the very first line of the post.
He’s done a complete flip. It’s not ambiguous.
- DuPage Bard - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 6:46 pm:
You cannot be everything to everyone all the time.
http://www.chicagonow.com/kelly-truth-squad/2016/08/tom_morrison_pro_voters_rauner/
Apparently the pro life folks were willing to accept pro choice Rauner in 2014 just to win back the mansion. Now that he’s there the acceptance has changed?
- Amalia - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 8:22 pm:
denying a woman’s agency is not cool. (you too Bernie, campaigning with a candidate who supports transvagultrasound govt requirement, what are you thinking?.)
- Babette - Thursday, Apr 20, 17 @ 6:38 pm:
Governor Rauner backtracks on yet another campaign promise. He’s destroying Illinois higher education; he’s privately threatening Republican legislators to prevent their voting for a compromise budget; and now backtracks on his campaign promise to uphold women’s right to control their own bodies. This is what you get from a governor who hobnobs with the Koch brothers!!!!