Donald Trump’s presidency has Illinois lawmakers weighing an issue not usually given as much attention in the General Assembly: abortion.
Since the 1970s, Illinois’ abortion laws have stayed mostly the same. Brigid Leahy of Planned Parenthood says legal-abortion advocates are now moving to stem the tide they see coming from Washington.
“We haven’t done a proactive bill like this in a number of years.”
State Representative Sara Feigenholtz says the administration of President Donald Trump is responsible for an awakening in women’s rights.
“In our state we have seen 250,000 women gather in one place, sort of sending a message that they’re not going backward. And you know (we) have heard things from the White House that are unimaginable.”
The current proposal would remove the “trigger law,” which automatically outlaws abortion should Roe v. Wade ever be overturned.
It would also allow abortion to be paid for under Medicaid and state-employee health insurance plans.
