Illinois Democrats push back against Trump on abortion

Chicago Tribune (IL)

Feb. 09--Pushing back against Republican President Donald Trump, one Democratic state lawmaker is sponsoring legislation aimed at protecting Illinois women's access to abortion services.

The plan from State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, would eliminate a so-called trigger provision in state law that automatically would make abortion illegal in Illinois if the abortion rights ruling Roe v. Wade is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. The proposal also would allow women with Medicaid and state employee health insurance to use their coverage for abortions.

Feigenholtz said her effort is a direct response to Trump, who has said he would appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade.

Before the court decision, abortion in Illinois was illegal unless the mother's life was at stake. A law passed in 1975 -- two years after the case -- says that while abortion is now legal, the state would return to its former policy if the decision is ever reversed or modified.

"We really have to protect Illinois women and make an affirmative statement as a General Assembly that says Illinois is going to be a state where abortion is safe and legal no matter what happens with the Supreme Court and Donald Trump," Feigenholtz said.

The legislation is part of a broader agenda announced Wednesday by House and Senate Democrats that represents resistance to Trump in the legislature their party controls. Democrats detailed their fears that he'll push to weaken women's rights, and they protested the president's executive order banning immigrants and refugees from some Muslim-majority countries.

The abortion legislation cleared an Illinois House committee Wednesday despite concerns from some Republicans that the plan would remove a section of the 1975 law that says an unborn child is a human being from the time of conception and has a right to life.

"I think we have the responsibility to recognize that even an unborn child is a human being," said Rep. Sheri Jesiel, R-Winthrop Harbor. "We have that responsibility as a culture. We have that responsibility as a state. By striking that from the language, we do not do that."

The proposal has far to go before becoming law. It still needs a full House vote, Senate approval and a signature from Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. Rauner avoided talk about social issues while campaigning but has since signed off on legislation that requires doctors who refuse to perform abortions for moral reasons to give patients information on where they can get the procedure elsewhere. That law is now before the courts.

Other efforts announced Wednesday call for paid sick time, paid family medical leave and access to free feminine hygiene products for students in grades 6-12. The group emphasized that more legislation could come up during session as it discusses other issues and the impact of the state budget impasse on women.

Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, said she is hoping to build on momentum from last year, when she successfully rolled back the sales tax on feminine hygiene products. Her new focus centers on legislation that seeks to prevent tailors, dry cleaners, hair salons and barbers from charging men and women different prices for the same services.

"I want to make sure that women are not being discriminated against for services," Bush said.

Under the proposal, businesses would be required to display a price list for their 15 most popular services, along with a sign informing customers about the state's anti-discrimination policy. Sellers would also have to provide a complete written price list to customers upon request. Businesses that violate the policy could wind up with a $1,000 fine.

"Women have had the vote for 100 years, and there are still pieces of women's rights that we just have to be paying more attention to," Bush said.

hbemiller@chicagotribune.com

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