Legislators Push To Repeal State Law That Would Outlaw Abortion In Illinois

Legislators Push To Repeal State Law That Would Outlaw Abortion In Illinois

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The Illinois Abortion Law of 1975 is a “trigger law”, meaning if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision then Illinois would revert to its pre-Roe policy: No abortion except to save the mother’s life.

State representative Sara Feigenholtz from Lake View said she took special note of the law when Donald Trump was elected president. Then-candidate Trump promised to appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe vs. Wade.

“It was quite the clarion call,” Feigenholtz said. “I thought, ‘We have trigger language in our statute, and we must strike it.’ ”

Her bill to repeal the language passed a house committee this week on a party line vote.

Asked whether Gov. Bruce Rauner would sign the bill, a spokesperson said the governor “will carefully consider any legislation that reaches his desk.”

Rauner signed a law last summer that expanded access to abortion.