Rock Island Today

Cathy Bein doesn't think House Bill 40 is meant to help women in Illinois.

“Many times, coming to have an abortion is not a woman’s choice at all, but that of a boyfriend, husband or even her parents,” Bein told the Rock Island Today. “I would like to see all the abortion money put toward helping women have other options. At places like Planned Parenthood, they make everything a case of doom and gloom for women where the only solution is abortion.”

Bein is the legislative director for the Quad City Right to Life organization.

HB40 would allow Medicaid recipients and state employees to use taxpayer money for elective abortion services and remove legal language mandating that an unborn child is a human being. It has passed the General Assembly and now goes to Gov. Bruce Rauner, who has vowed to veto it based on costs.

Bein argued that even abortion rights advocates are against the procedure being paid for by taxpayers. In a recent Marist Institute survey, 61 percent of respondents opposed the idea, including 40 percent of whom identified as pro-choice.

“It just shows that the activists in the Democratic Party are the ones setting the agenda,” Bein said. “It’s well known that the party gets all kinds of massive contributions from the likes of Planned Parenthood, Emily’s List and others.”

Rep. Mike Halpin (D- Rock Island) voted in favor of the bill, which early estimates predict will cost taxpayers at least $60 million to fund.

“Democrats seem to think this kind of legislation results in more votes for them,” Bein said. “Some of them might actually believe some of what they’re saying, but I think a lot of others believe it will get them votes.”

HB40 was introduced by Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), who has said her actions were at least partly motivated by what’s happening at the federal level.

"After repeated threats from the White House and President Trump's remarks to strip abortion rights away from women, this legislation was necessary to safeguard a woman's right to make decisions that affect her personal health in Illinois," she said.

Bein vows that her group will continue to do all it can to oppose the measure. 

“If this bill were to pass, abortions would explode,” she said. “We will be lobbying legislators, sending out emails and notices, making sure we’re heard on this.”