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Abortion stuff

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This article lays out the abortion issue in Illinois pretty well.

The start of President Bush’s second term is encouraging for anti-abortion forces and dismaying to abortion rights advocates.

But both sides agree on one thing: It will be several years before any major push to outlaw abortion comes to Illinois — if it does at all.

“Four years is a realistic best case scenario for my group,” said Ralph Rivera, director of Illinois Citizens for Life, an anti-abortion group that was buoyed by Bush’s re-election and the addition of four more GOP members to the U.S. Senate in November. […]

Rivera said he’s approaching the looming battle methodically.

“It’s like watching a football game and the first guy who scores a touchdown goes nuts. You say, ‘What is he doing? The game’s not over,’” said Rivera. “This is just the first or second step. You don’t go nuts until the final step. And even then you’ve got to be vigilant.”

Similarly, abortion rights groups are taking a step-by-step approach to the situation.

Soon after the election, Planned Parenthood began pushing Illinois lawmakers to approve a measure that would ensure Illinois will continue to follow the tenets of Roe v. Wade in the event each state is given the opportunity to decide whether abortion is legal.

Observers say Planned Parenthood is unlikely to have much success in that campaign.

“In the status quo, it might be hard to pass such a bill,” said Steve Brown, a spokesman for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, a Catholic who considers himself an abortion foe.

Read the whole thing. It’s a good one.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jan 24, 05 @ 3:40 am

Comments

The article refers to “laws that restrict abortion rights” in IL. I can’t think of one. No parental consent, no waiting period, not even a informed consent law.

What on earth are they talking about? I fully agree nothing will pass either way. Madigan won’t do squat to hurt his downstate members.

Comment by Pat Collins Monday, Jan 24, 05 @ 10:54 am