* We’ve already talked a bit about HB3850…
Repeals the Reproductive Health Act. Creates the Illinois Abortion Law of 2019 containing the provisions of the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975 before its repeal by Public Act 101-13, as well as provisions defining “viability” to include when, in the medical judgment of the attending physician based on the particular facts of the case before the attending physician, the unborn child has a fetal heartbeat, and defining “fetal heartbeat” as the cardiac activity or the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart within the gestational sac.
* Mark Maxwell dives in…
House Republican Allen Skillicorn, who is mulling a 2020 Congressional campaign, filed the anti-abortion measure in Springfield to respond to what he called “truly appalling legislation.”
Skillicorn, a two-term representative from East Dundee, wrote in a statement, “It is now conceivable that a 14-year old girl lacking parental consent and advanced in her pregnancy could receive an abortion from a ‘health worker’ in a facility lacking minimum medical standards, as practitioner and facility licensing have been revoked. And if she would die due to negligence, no record of the death due to a botched abortion would be reported.”
“That is a complete disregard for reality,” [Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago], who sponsored the bill in the House, said. “[Skillicorn] operates from a position that people are stupid and not smart enough to know the truth.” […]
The measure did also remove the state’s ability to grant special licenses to abortion clinics, but supporters say they did so as a precaution to eliminate so-called “trap laws” that were “put in place to close all abortion clinics,” Cassidy said. By removing the requirement for outpatient abortion clinics to seek a state license, the Reproductive Health Act prevents future legislatures or state agency directors from targeting a facility’s license as a means to revoke access to the procedure, similar to what is currently happening in the state of Missouri.
In this regard, Skillicorn’s hyperbolic hypothetical is a gross over-exaggeration, and not literally true. According to state law, doctors and facilities that perform abortions still have to be licensed medical practitioners and still must meet strict health, safety, and medical guidelines, just as any other surgeon, physician, or hospital have to comply with state and federal safety standards. The change in the law only removes an older provision that added an extra regulatory hurdle specifically for abortion procedures. Some smaller outpatient abortion facilities that provide abortion by injection or by pill may not have to be licensed as surgery centers, but the medical professionals performing the procedures still must be professionally trained and licensed.
Also, mandatory parental consent laws were declared unconstitutional in 1979.
- Demoralized - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 11:14 am:
Is there ever any time when Skillicorn isn’t hyperbolic?
- @misterjayem - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 11:18 am:
“[Skillicorn] operates from a position that people are stupid and not smart enough to know the truth.”
Unfortunately that is a feature of Skillicorn’s political career, not a bug.
– MrJM
- Rasselas - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 11:18 am:
Skillicorn is also lying (let’s call it what it is) about the reporting of deaths. All maternal deaths are reported under a different law. What was repealed was a specific requirement that abortion-related deaths be reported differently and also be reported to the coroner or ME. Under the new law, all maternal deaths are treated the same and are reported. So that part is just a lie.
The other part - defining ‘viability’ as having a heart beat - is just nonsensical from a science perspective. You might as well ‘define’ skyscraper as any building over 2 feet tall.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 11:19 am:
What’s exciting, for me, is the possibility of not only Skillicorn leaving the stage, but Oberweis too, as they both seem to feel they… add… to whatever they think is a party, but they both push away so many… and in this case, not necessarily the position, but being so ridiculously hyperbolic and lacking in fact.
It’s one thing to be that “angry” person, but try to have facts to be angry about, not what the little voices in your head want you to think should anger you.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 11:24 am:
It’s totally sham legislation, meant to stir up support among the super-minority.
People say the left plays identity politics, but the GOP has been pandering to angry rural whites for a long time, and now with Trump there’s not even pretense of anything else. Where are more racially-diverse voters supposed to go but to the Democratic Party?
- Goner - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 11:32 am:
Love seeing reporters use plain speak to call out politicians and their lies.
- PrairieDog - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 11:45 am:
Grandson;
Do you assume that all “racially diverse” voters agree with you on the issue of abortion? It’s rather quaint that you project your own views on the “racially diverse”.
- Just Me - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 12:04 pm:
I’ve never heard of a political exaggerating before. Amazing.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 12:06 pm:
“It’s rather quaint that you project your own views on the “racially diverse”
Look at the racial makeup of both parties and their voters and then talk.
- Arock - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 12:34 pm:
The truth is that it is a human life in the womb and that an abortion ends that human life, sounds barbaric too me. And I am talking about the majority of abortions that are done by choice not for necessity for the bodily health of mother.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 12:40 pm:
“The truth is that it is a human life in the womb and that an abortion ends that human life, sounds barbaric too me.”
So don’t get one.
- Lake County Mom - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 12:50 pm:
A fetus is not a person. It has the potential to be a person, like an acorn has the potential to be an oak tree, but until it’s able to survive outside a uterus, it’s not a person.
What’s barbaric is keeping comprehensive sex education out of classrooms. What’s barbaric is enacting laws that give employers, pharmacists, and hospitals the power to determine if they will or won’t permit women to access birth control. What’s barbaric is to force women into having children which will force many of them into a life of poverty.
If you want to see what barbaric is, look what our government is doing to children coming across the boarder.
It seems only embryos and fetuses are worthy of protection to those on the right. Once a baby is born, they are on their own.
- Looking down the Road - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 12:54 pm:
I can’t wait for the post-birth abortion movement.
- Politix - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 12:54 pm:
Anonymous @12:40 is me.
- Annonin' - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 12:55 pm:
Mr/Ms OW
rest assured that even with Chopper Jim and Skilly gone there are lack of whack jobs to steer the GOPie clown car in the months ahead.
- Lake County Mom - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 12:59 pm:
“I can’t wait for the post-birth abortion movement.”
What do you think the efforts to overturn Obamacare is?
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 12:59 pm:
As A Republican in Il-14 im torn between wanting Skillicorn and Oberweris purged from our State GOP caucus and wanting a viable candidate to take ben Il-14.
- Former Quigley Supporter - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 1:21 pm:
==As A Republican in Il-14 im torn between wanting Skillicorn and Oberweris purged from our State GOP caucus and wanting a viable candidate to take ben Il-14.==
Skillicorn and Oberweis will be purged win or lose the IL-14 primary, since both have to give up their respective seats to run for Congress. If Sue Rezin wins the primary, and wins the general, then you will have purged 3 of the current State GOP from the ILGA.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 1:24 pm:
- Annonin‘ -
My friend, so formal. Please, “just” OW.
===there are (not a) lack of whack jobs to steer the GOPie clown car in the months ahead.===
This I know. The “Eastern Bloc” folks alone…
Can the caucuses find a way to let them be “their crazy” in private? Dunno.
Go Salukis.
===…wanting a viable candidate…===
The likelihood one can emerge? Dunno. Take what you can, and if that’s Oberweis and Skillicorn off the stage…
- red buds - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 1:34 pm:
“Also, mandatory parental consent laws were declared unconstitutional in 1979.”
-kinda/sorta; The U.S. Supreme Court held that States can have laws requiring the minor to notify either a parent or a judge (in case don’t want to tell parent). Of course the judge is probably going to ask a lot more intrusive questions and be harder to see in time, than a parent.
- Skeptic - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 1:53 pm:
“going to ask a lot more intrusive questions and be harder to see in time, than a parent.” But also far less likely to take it out on the kid.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 3:17 pm:
==The truth is that it is a human life in the womb and that an abortion ends that human life, sounds barbaric too me.==
While many disagree, this (or some variation thereof) is a viable argument. At every turn in this debate, republicans just like Skilly make stuff up out of whole cloth, use snippets of “undercover” video out of context, or hyperbolically exaggerate opposing positions. Why? It seems unnecessary. It also damages their credibility.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 4:06 pm:
==Skillicorn and Oberweis will be purged win or lose the IL-14 primary, since both have to give up their respective seats to run for Congress. If Sue Rezin wins the primary, and wins the general, then you will have purged 3 of the current State GOP from the ILGA.==
Rezin will have some difficulty in the primary, voting for gas tax & ERA last year will not help her in the primary. The three could split name recognition, could see a lane for someone like Ted Gradel get in. Many of us are sick of those three.