Chicago, January 22, 2019 — One the day that Pro-Life supporters hold their annual March for Life on the 46th anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision legalizing abortions, Gov Pritzker, Lt Gov Stratton and AG Kwame Raoul, held a press conference at Planned Parenthood of Illinois, as the Governor reaffirmed his support of HB-40, that allowed for Illinois taxpayer funding of abortions.
HB-40 was passed during the Rauner Administration and signed into law by then Gov Rauner — in a move that undercut much of his support among conservatives in the Illinois Republican party.
Today, in an Executive Order, Gov Pritzker directed the Department of Central Management Services to review all state employee group health insurance plans, identify barriers to women exercising their right to choose, and present recommendations to bring all health insurance plans into compliance with the law within the next 60 days, and to make all insurance policies sold in Illinois in compliance with HB-40 by July 1 – the start of the new fiscal year.
“Illinois will be the most progressive state in the nation when it comes to protecting womens’ reproductive rights.” Gov Pritzker said
“I look forward to working with Governor JB Pritzker and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton to ensure that all women have access to a full range of reproductive health care, including access to safe and legal abortion,” said Jennifer Welch, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois.
“With an ultra-conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court, it is more critical than ever that Illinois is led by a governor who is unequivocal in his support of reproductive rights. Our new governor’s commitment to reproductive freedom and the health care provided by Planned Parenthood has been steadfast for decades. I am confident that Governor Pritzker, and his entire administration, will protect Illinois as an oasis for reproductive health care, not only for Illinoisans, but for all people in surrounding states who must travel to receive the care they need.”
