Ill. House Majority Leader, Advocates Introduce Bill To Bar Abortion, Birth Control Restrictions

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 07 Mar 2008 - 8:00 PST

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Abortion-rights supporters and opponents are "bracing for another clash" in the Illinois House this spring over a bill (HB 5615) that would bar state or local governments from restricting women's access to contraceptives or abortions except in limited circumstances, the AP/Chicago Daily Herald reports. House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D), lead sponsor of the measure, said it is intended to protect women's rights. The bill also calls for comprehensive sex education to be taught in schools, which is opposed by some conservative groups and lawmakers, the AP/Daily Herald reports. Currie acknowledged that the measure will face challenges. Supporters of the bill, including Planned Parenthood of Illinois, said it is in response to concerns that a more conservative U.S. Supreme Court could restrict women's rights to abortion and other reproductive health services. "We want to make a clear statement that this state supports a woman's right to choose," Planned Parenthood Executive Director Pam Sutherland said.

The conservative advocacy group Illinois Family Institute distributed a letter last week urging its members to contact lawmakers and express their opposition to the bill. The group said that the measure would make it impossible to implement abortion restrictions, such as parental notification requirements or laws allowing pharmacists to refuse to dispense emergency contraception. The bill "represents a radical and unprecedented departure from current Illinois law regarding abortion, public funding of abortion, health care right of conscience and comprehensive sex education," the group wrote.

Currie said that she plans to hold hearings this year around the state to discuss the bill and that she is willing to modify it to address certain concerns. "My guess is that at the end of the day, it won't look quite like this," Currie said. Currie and Sutherland said the measure might not advance far this year because it is an election year. They also said they hope to work through some of the tension surrounding abortion. "I think we can get past the polarization," Sutherland said, adding, "We're in this for the long haul. If it doesn't go this spring, I guarantee we will go at this until we secure support" (AP/Chicago Daily Herald, 3/4).

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