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Dems inch forward on PNA repeal

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Illinois

With the backing of the legislature’s Democratic majority, Illinois has been at the forefront of expanding abortion access in recent years, even enshrining a “fundamental right” to the procedure in state statute.

Legislative efforts backed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to repeal a quarter-century-old Republican-sponsored law requiring parents to be notified when a minor seeks an abortion, however, have not been an easy sell. Even some Democrats question whether such a move goes too far in pitting abortion rights against parental rights. […]

Another complicating factor is that all 177 seats in the legislature will be up for election next year under new boundaries drawn during the once-a-decade redistricting process. That leaves some incumbents potentially wary of taking on a highly polarizing issue before having to court voters in unfamiliar territory, especially in suburban areas where Democrats have picked up seats from the GOP in recent elections. […]

Several Democratic lawmakers either declined to discuss the issue during the first half of the legislature’s two-week fall session, didn’t return calls seeking comment or said they were undecided on how they’d vote if the matter is taken up.

One undecided legislator was state Rep. Lawrence Walsh Jr., an Elwood Democrat who voted against the 2019 Reproductive Health Act, which codified into state law the “fundamental right” to an abortion. He questioned whether a vote to repeal parental notification was ready for consideration.

Rep. Walsh voted for HB40, however.

* Meanwhile…

* They won’t be alone…

Pro-lifers are planning to urge the lawmakers to leave the law as it is with a rally Tuesday, October 26th at the State Capitol in Springfield.

Planners are asking those concerned about the issue to arrive at 10 am and stand for a few hours outside the building.

* And…

State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) argues the effort to repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act (PNA) of 1995 is taking away parental rights. […]

Bryant said nothing about repealing the PNA stands to make the situation better for any those involved.

“This will not fix child abuse,” she said. “It will only leave young girls with mental health issues that could last a lifetime if they don’t receive the proper support and care that they need. We must take a stand to protect parental rights and safeguard the system in place already that allows a parent to be there for their child at an unimaginably vulnerable time.”

Bryant is joined by several other Republican lawmakers in speaking out, with Senate Republican deputy leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) arguing that the assertion that this legislation is needed in light of a recently passed Texas law that sets up more legal barricades for a woman seeking an abortion.

“They know that what is happening in Texas has no effect on what’s happening in our state,” she said.

* BND…

The number of patients from Texas visiting an abortion clinic in Granite City hasn’t changed much, even since the state effectively banned abortions in September.

The reason?

“We’ve always seen those patients,” said Alison Dreith, the clinic’s deputy director.

Illinois has long been a destination for those seeking care, predating Texas’ Senate Bill 8 and its drastic new legal precedent. Even since the Supreme Court found abortion constitutional in 1973, it has been easier to drive hours or fly to Illinois.

As Illinois has increased abortion rights while other states whittled away at them, out-of-state patients have increasingly sought services here. In 2015, they accounted for 8% of all abortions in the state. In 2016, that number increased to 12%, and it has risen every year since.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 12:29 pm

Comments

“Illinois has long been a destination for those seeking care”

Well perhaps they should be reaching out to the Chamber rather than the ILGA

Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 12:53 pm
This is just another example of the idea that “the government knows better than the parents”.

What a said state of affairs this country is in.

Comment by MOON Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 1:04 pm
So a young woman under 18 can be deemed mature enough to obtain birth control, make health care decisions like getting a cesarean section (is that not surgery?), carry a child to term and raise it, make life long decisions about the child or even put the child up for adoption (all of which they can do without parental consent) but isn’t mature enough to decide whether they want to continue their pregnancy without their parent’s permission? Give me a break…..

Comment by Just a girl Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 1:36 pm
Just a girl

Did you see the “N” in PNA? Stands for notification. Not consent.

Comment by PurpleDog Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 1:52 pm
MOON, maybe this is a case of thinking the one who is pregnant knows best. Not all parents are supportive, loving, or worth a [redacted]. In fact, sometimes the person seeking the abortion was impregnated by a relative and can’t count on family for help.

Comment by SubRosa Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 2:13 pm
There was not a single complaint from a single parent about the lack of notice/consent prior to the ‘95 law. Consent & notification are the same thing to a teenager who is a victim of rape, incest, violence or fears being homeless. It’s the consequences of being found out about the pregnancy and need to have an abortion, which for the record is many, many, many more times safer than a c-section which she can get without ever telling a parent. So let’s just stop with the false flags around this issue.

Comment by Cosgrove Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 2:15 pm
If you’re old enough to get pregnant, you’re old enough to decide what to do next.

Comment by Furtive Look Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 2:43 pm
Don’t you need a parents ok for the school nurse to give an aspirin in school? Don’t you need a parents ok to get a vaccine? Just points about healthcare where parents are needed to be aware of the issue.

Comment by Frank talks Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 2:56 pm
With everything happening in school board meetings right now, efforts like this further the narrative that Democrats oppose parents. That’s a losing message.

Comment by Chris in DuPage Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 3:29 pm
=If you’re old enough to get pregnant, you’re old enough to decide what to do next.=

I disagree. What about a 12 or 13 year old girl who is sexually abused?

Comment by Because I said so.... Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 4:01 pm
This unnecessary law that forces youth to notify someone of their decision to have an abortion risks delay of access to reproductive health care.

The adults in the minor’s life are not always someone the youth can turn to for support. Youth in these families fear abuse, getting kicked out of the house, or being forced to continue a pregnancy. No law can create healthy family communication and this law can place youth at even more risk.

We trust a pregnant minor to make every other decision related to a pregnancy; to carry the pregnancy to term, to agree to an adoption, to consent to complex medical care and to RAISE THE CHILD! It is only when a minor decides to terminate their pregnancy that approval is needed.

We should respect young people’s decisions about their pregnancies and support them whether they decide to parent or seek an abortion.

Comment by Annie Monday, Oct 25, 21 @ 4:39 pm