“Illinois Lawmakers Will be Working Before the Primary, Right?”(Illinois Family Spotlight #076)

Monte and Dave are back with Ralph Rivera, a lobbyist for Illinois Right to Life Action and Illinois Family Institute.

This week’s Spotlight features a discussion about the March 20th primary, the lawsuit surrounding HB 40, a bill enacting taxpayer funding of abortion, SB 1564 a bill that forces medical personnel to refer women to abortion clinics, the sanctuary state legislation signed by Governor Rauner, the Equal Rights Amendment, and new legislation concerns, including physician assisted suicide, and recreational marijuana.

Since Governor Bruce Rauner signed HB 40 allowing for tax dollars to be used to pay for abortions, a lawsuit was filed by Illinois Right to Life Action and the Thomas More Society. The suit features two challenges according to Ralph Rivera. First, in regard to the law’s expenditure of public funds, since the General Assembly has yet to set aside funds, there is technically no money available to pay for the abortions. Second, the suit challenges the date that the law goes into effect. Rather than its stated effective date of January 1, 2018, the lawsuit contends it should be June 1st, according to legislative rules. Success in this challenge could save thousands of lives.

SB 1564, another bill signed by Governor Rauner, mandates that pregnancy care centers and doctors promote abortion. Last year a federal court issued an injunction that halted the enforcement of the law. The challenge to it stipulates that it violates conscience rights and free speech, which is contrary to federal law and the U.S. Constitution. A case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to have an impact on SB 1564 as well (click here to learn more).

The discussion about the so-called “Equal Rights” Amendment covered a few of the problems found within the relatively short proposal. In addition to its faulty premise (Americans already have equal protection as outlined in the 14th Amendment), the predictable negative consequences include young women having to register with Selective Service System and thus becoming eligible to be drafted into the military.

The March primary election is expected to cut into the General Assembly’s time being in session. Nevertheless, Leftists, feeling empowered by Rauner’s cooperation with the Democratic Party’s radical social agenda, may well seek a repeal of Illinois’ parental notification law, move forward with legislation to permit physician assisted suicide and the legalization of recreational marijuana.