I interviewed Gov. J.B. Pritzker a few days before his Democratic Party was stunned by losses and near-losses in Virginia and New Jersey last week.
Now, I am not one of those folks who automatically believes that candidates should plan for the next election based on the most recent election results. I also don’t think that things that work well in one state will work in another.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom soundly beat back a recall effort in September partly by trumpeting his proud record battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Virginia’s Democratic governor also ran on his robust anti-COVID program and lost last week to a Republican who opposed mask and vaccine mandates. That same Republican ran as unabashedly pro-life and blasted the incumbent pro-choice Democrat for being against “parents’ rights.”
During the recent fall veto session, the Illinois House and Senate passed a bill repealing the state’s Parental Notification of Abortion Act. The conventional wisdom seems to be that repealing the law could be a politically dangerous thing for the Democrats to do. Several Democrats even voted against the bill.
I told Pritzker that most polls I’ve seen showed opposition to the bill he’s about to sign into law. For instance, when 600 registered Illinois voters were asked during a March 7-10 poll taken by the Tarrance Group, “If a minor under age 18 is seeking an abortion, do you think the law should require her parent or guardian to be notified before the procedure?” Of the respondents, 72% said “Yes.”
So, I asked Pritzker, who loves his long soliloquies, if he could give me a quick, brisk sound bite response to the question of why he supports the PNA repeal bill. We’re heading into campaign season and long soliloquies don’t usually play very well on the campaign trail.
“Well, the reasons why girls are afraid to tell their parents are frightening,” he said. “I mean, physical abuse, rape, incest. And we are, there is a certain percentage of minors fit into this category. And if we do not protect them, if we did not protect them by getting passage of the PNA repeal, we would see continued back-alley abortions and serious potential illness and death.”
But, I asked, what do you say to a good parent who simply wants to know when their daughter has an abortion and maybe for whatever reason she doesn’t tell them?
“Most importantly, the vast majority of situations, kids are telling their parents. And those good relationships that exist, nothing in this interferes with those good relationships and that has not been a problem. The problem has been where you don’t have the relationship or where the parents are abusive or worse. So this is about protecting the most vulnerable children, not about protecting the children of, for example, the members of the General Assembly.”
The only poll I’ve seen where even a plurality of respondents supported the PNA repeal was commissioned by the pro-choice Personal PAC back in late April.
“Most young women live in supportive and loving homes,” the question began, “but an Illinois law forces a small number of other young women who live in homes where there is violence and sexual assault to tell a violent parent she needs an abortion. Do you support this law that forces young women to tell their parents they need an abortion, or do you think it should be repealed?”
The Public Policy Polling survey of 700 Illinois registered voters found that 46% of Illinois registered voters favored repeal under those circumstances, 29% said they “support this law that forces young women to tell their parents they need an abortion,” and 25% were unsure.
But Terry Cosgrove of the pro-choice group Personal PAC believes that the 25% who said they were undecided is good news because it’s an indication the issue is not the all-encompassing sledgehammer that opponents portray it as.
Cosgrove, who raises a ton of money for pro-choice candidates every election cycle and spends even more on his group’s direct mail, online and TV ads, also seemed to indicate that the best defense of the bill would be a good offense.
“Come election time,” Cosgrove told me, “voters will completely and unmistakably understand that those who want to put the health and lives of Illinois’ young women at risk are the same people supporting the outrageous Texas law and seeking to make abortion illegal in Illinois, even in cases of rape and incest.”
I suppose we’ll see.
- Dankakee - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 10:17 am:
I’m guessing a significant chunk of that 72% doesn’t even think it can or will happen to them.
- Back to the Future - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 10:19 am:
Good article on the views surrounding the PNA repeal.
- Mama - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 10:29 am:
““Most importantly, the vast majority of situations, kids are telling their parents. And those good relationships that exist, nothing in this interferes with those good relationships and that has not been a problem. The problem has been where you don’t have the relationship or where the parents are abusive or worse. So this is about protecting the most vulnerable children, not about protecting the children of, for example, the members of the General Assembly.””
The governor is right, but some people love forcing their needs on others.
- Numbers matter - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 10:33 am:
Big loser for Dems on this issue in the suburbs. They took it one step too far. So easy to frame as another denial of parents rights. And a whole lot of parents from both parties see it that way.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 10:36 am:
Republicans will be painted as dangerous to women’s health, and after the two abortion cases are heard and ruled on by SCOTUS, it’s not that repeal of PNA is about today, it’s the marker for “after” SCOTUS rules and will the GOP cheer more abortion restrictions in an election year.
If being against the PNA repeal is so great, why is the GOP so silent on that and the Texas abortion law?
- Amalia - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 10:39 am:
but kids can do other medical things without permission from parents. publicize that list.
- Glenn - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 10:48 am:
Parents without supportive relationships with their daughters should engage in serious introspection rather than pursue coerced communication though force of law.
- Wow - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 10:51 am:
One of the “many reasons” today’s Democratic Party and I just don’t fit..
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 10:59 am:
=== “many reasons”===
If there are many reasons…
To the post;
=== “Come election time,” Cosgrove told me, “voters will completely and unmistakably understand that those who want to put the health and lives of Illinois’ young women at risk are the same people supporting the outrageous Texas law and seeking to make abortion illegal in Illinois, even in cases of rape and incest.”===
It’s as obvious a play as a nose on a face.
One big reason pols won’t tout as loudly in swing districts a vote no on PNA is exactly the idea that “Candidate X is a threat to women’s health, even if it’s children having children”
“So you are against PNA, does that make you pro-choice? Do you feel a 12 year old child should have a pregnancy go full term because a parent says so?”
You’re going to have many a pro-life candidate struggle with choice because parents need to have a “choice” if their child at 12 must see a pregnancy through to full term.
- Pundent - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 11:07 am:
=Big loser for Dems on this issue in the suburbs.=
Sure if you can run solely on parental rights and completely side-step abortion. But if it was that easy we’d be hearing a lot more from the ILGOP on this topic.
- Donnie Elgin - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 11:08 am:
The PNA repeal is popular with the hardcore base of the Dems - listening to JB twist himself into a pretzel with Rich’s questions, portends problems that D’s will have with the general voting population. PNA plus religious exemption will make for ample political fodder in Novemebr 2022.
- Lucky Pierre - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 11:14 am:
As always Democrats are 100% right and 72% of voters are wrong OW
- JS Mill - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 11:20 am:
=So easy to frame as another denial of parents rights. And a whole lot of parents from both parties see it that way.=
Given your monicker maybe you can share some actual numbers?
What exactly to people think parents rights are? Because in my experience, most of what people espouse them to be are inaccurate.
I have had parents scream at me, during a school lockdown (because we were searching for a gun) that they had the right to come in and get their kid. Fortunately a police officer (who had to divert his time away from searching for the weapon) explain that that was not a right.
What parents have is authority over their minor children, there is no actual “parents bill of rights” that has real legal standing. Parents should have responsibility, but from my vantage fewer and fewer parents understand and accept that.
But they love to scream (yes, scream) about their fictional rights.
Speaking as a parent of male and female children.
- SaulGoodman - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 11:24 am:
**but kids can do other medical things without permission from parents. publicize that list.**
Let’s start with… having a baby. And making ALL said medical decisions about the baby and pregnancy without permission or any involvement from parents. Except the decision of terminating said pregnancy (which will change next summer after this bill is signed).
- Publius - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 11:42 am:
I think the GOP wants to run on the idea that their childern are their “property”. Same goes for education and all health care including vaccines. Problem is their childern especially as they approach 18 may not appreciate this.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 11:57 am:
===As always===
If you were ever honest in reading or critiquing…
If you think abortion is a winner come election time, why all the silence now - Lucky Pierre -…
You think framing this as requiring 12 year olds to carry a pregnancy full term might be a tough sell on women’s health?
- Give Us Barabbas - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 11:58 am:
Publius is onto something; far right conservatives think in terms of property crime when it comes to women and children, its very patriarchal thinking.
As far as PNA; it wasn’t needed for good parents and it only hurt kids more if they had bad parents. That may not have been the intention but it was the effect.
- The Swede - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 1:16 pm:
We’ll see how it plays out…..you can frame it several ways. I think Dems lose big in the suburbs on this issue alone. No one likes to see an erosion of parental rights. I also concur that this was taken one step too far.
- Concerned Convivial - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 1:28 pm:
If my minor child is going to have a medical procedure, I want to know about it. The whole point is that minors are not equipped to deal with many things, especially emotional, potentially life-altering matters. What if it’s not a controlling/abusive parent but a controlling/abusive sociopathic boyfriend or some other abuser? Good relationships aside, all parents know that some children can be lead astray by a cadre of twisted, predatory types. What’s the over/under there? Abusive parent vs abusive outsider? What if you’re opening some extremely unsavory doors with this?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 1:37 pm:
===The whole point is that minors are not equipped to deal with many things, especially emotional, potentially life-altering matters.===
So a 12 year old should be required to take a pregnancy full term because a parent is pro-life, no matter if it was a rape/incest situation?
That’s how Texas sees abortion. Should Illinois be the next Texas?
- A Jack - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 4:02 pm:
Comparing Illinois to Texas is just silly. PNA only required parental notification, not parental permission. And there was a process if the child was afraid to notify their parents. I will never be affected by PNA, but I see it as a further erosion of parental rights and something I will consider in the next election.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 4:07 pm:
=== Comparing Illinois to Texas is just silly===
Silly or not, it’s going to happen. That’s what the repeal is setting, a marker, and those now concerned about notification, are they now pro choice too?
===…further erosion of parental rights and something I will consider in the next election.===
“further erosion of parental rights”
Yeah, you’re not the target audience with that thinking
- Demoralized - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 4:20 pm:
==further erosion of parental rights==
What does “further” mean? You must believe they are under assault so tell us what rights you believe have been eroded.
- Demoralized - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 4:20 pm:
==As always Democrats are 100% right and 72% of voters are wrong==
As always, LP plays the victim.
- A Jack - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 6:24 pm:
OW, I am still a parent and a grandparent. While my daughter is beyond PNA age, PNA repeal is still an issue I will be considering in the next election. Frankly I could care less what Texas does and I seriously doubt Texas cares about what Illinois does.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 7:01 pm:
=== While my daughter is beyond PNA age, PNA repeal is still an issue I will be considering in the next election. Frankly I could care less what Texas does and I seriously doubt Texas cares about what Illinois does.===
Hmm.
===…further erosion of parental rights and something I will consider in the next election.===
A FoxNews talking point translated to your feelings?
What is this further erosion in Illinois that concerns you.
Be specific.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 8:46 pm:
To the post,
I enjoy the way Rich put into polling perspective the challenges of signing a bill into law that isn’t polling at all that popular.
It’s so good how it’s smoked out what is going to be the play to turn this bill (now repealed act) into something in the political that’s different in the actual.
That’s kinda where I’ve seen it.
Reading what Rich wrote, asking the governor for a soundbite response, getting Cosgrove to comment, there’s so much being built around framing an argument, the bill itself and its own reason is morphing through the words I’m reading in this piece.
It’s why I’ve been as I’ve been.
The battle is going to be between which side can have the argument be on the issue they feel polls best for them… the negatives of the bill or what the bill represents in a bigger discussion later to abortion as SCOTUS will wade in during the 2022 campaign season, and the marker now that this signing represents.
If Cosgrove and pro-choice forces lose the narrative, even with these SCOTUS cases being played out, it could flip what was a smart marker some see to a concern and the message to why… will be spun out of control for pro-choice advocates
It’s a long game.