Democratic Illinois House OKs Public Funding For Abortions

By Associated Press
This Sept. 20, 2012 photo shows the shadows of a young woman from Rockford, Ill., left, with her husband. When her doctor said a medical condition made her unplanned pregnancy too risky, she decided to go ahead with an abortion in 2011. Abortion protesters were picketing outside when the young couple arrived in the parking lot for the procedure. One protester was particularly persistent. “She was just blatantly yelling at my fiance and I. I turned around and said, ‘Listen, lady, you don’t know what everyone is going through.’ She was just saying that I was already a mom and I have all these options - the opposite of what my doctor was telling me. “I looked at her and told her, ‘I’m doing this to save my life.‘” (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
This Sept. 20, 2012 photo shows the shadows of a young woman from Rockford, Ill., left, with her husband. When her doctor said a medical condition made her unplanned pregnancy too risky, she decided to go ahead with an abortion in 2011. Abortion protesters were picketing outside when the young couple arrived in the parking lot for the procedure. One protester was particularly persistent. "She was just blatantly yelling at my fiance and I. I turned around and said, 'Listen, lady, you don't know what everyone is going through.' She was just saying that I was already a mom and I have all these options - the opposite of what my doctor was telling me. "I looked at her and told her, 'I'm doing this to save my life.'" (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
This Sept. 20, 2012 photo shows the shadows of a young woman from Rockford, Ill., left, with her husband. When her doctor said a medical condition made her unplanned pregnancy too risky, she decided to go ahead with an abortion in 2011. Abortion protesters were picketing outside when the young couple arrived in the parking lot for the procedure. One protester was particularly persistent. “She was just blatantly yelling at my fiance and I. I turned around and said, ‘Listen, lady, you don’t know what everyone is going through.’ She was just saying that I was already a mom and I have all these options - the opposite of what my doctor was telling me. “I looked at her and told her, ‘I’m doing this to save my life.‘” (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
This Sept. 20, 2012 photo shows the shadows of a young woman from Rockford, Ill., left, with her husband. When her doctor said a medical condition made her unplanned pregnancy too risky, she decided to go ahead with an abortion in 2011. Abortion protesters were picketing outside when the young couple arrived in the parking lot for the procedure. One protester was particularly persistent. "She was just blatantly yelling at my fiance and I. I turned around and said, 'Listen, lady, you don't know what everyone is going through.' She was just saying that I was already a mom and I have all these options - the opposite of what my doctor was telling me. "I looked at her and told her, 'I'm doing this to save my life.'" (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Democratic Illinois House OKs Public Funding For Abortions

By Associated Press
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Democratic-controlled Illinois House has approved public funding for all abortions.

The House voted 62-55 Tuesday to allow state-employee health insurance or Medicaid to cover abortions. Medicaid currently covers abortions in limited cases.

The vote capped a two-hour debate and coincided with the Illinois Women March on Springfield for a “progressive agenda.”

The measure is sponsored by Chicago Democratic state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz. She called it an issue of fairness and says it also ensures abortion remains legal in Illinois if the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing abortion is overturned.

Republican state Rep. Peter Breen of Lombard says Medicaid-funded abortions do not qualify for federal match so would cost Illinois an extra $60 million a year.

GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner now opposes public funding.