Posted on 09/28/2017 3:09:04 PM PDT by Pinkbell
CHICAGO -- Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation Thursday allowing state health insurance and Medicaid coverage for abortions, ending months of speculation after the Republican reversed his stance on the issue last spring.
The General Assembly controlled by Democrats approved the measure in May but delayed sending it to Rauner until Monday, in part because he has changed his mind about support of the plan.
As a candidate in 2014, Rauner said he would support expanding coverage for abortions. But last April he said he opposed the idea and said the state should focus on improving the economy.
The proposal would allow abortions funded by state employee health insurance and Medicaid. Democrats argue all women should have the same access to abortion services. Republicans argued taxpayers should not be forced to fund a morally objectionable procedure, particularly during a state budget crisis.
The Department of Healthcare and Family Services estimates the annual taxpayer cost of abortions under the measure would be $1.8 million.
The decision has been politically difficult for Rauner, who's considered one of the most vulnerable governors nationwide in his 2018 bid for a second term.
The former venture capitalist first won elected office in 2014, in part by getting support from independent voters in the suburbs, especially women, with his pledge to have "no social agenda." He often campaigned with his wife, Diana Rauner, who calls herself a "lifelong Democrat."
Rejecting the measure would turn off those voters while signing it would risk enraging social conservatives and could mean a primary challenger for him. The law takes effect immediately.
(Excerpt) Read more at wgntv.com ...
It seem to me there should be a trade-off.
If you want the government to help you with your health care, you need to give something back.
You accept the fact you will not get one dime of our tax dollars for an abortion.
End of negotiations.
Abortions are the left’s evil sacrament. Is this being done in honor of Hefner?
The most sickening bunch of politicians of both stripes can be found in ILL-ANNOY. Think Luis Guitierrez ... Little Dick Durbin ... Mark Kirk ... Ray LaHood ... Rauner the fraud
With Republicans like this, who needs Democrats?
RINO
It’s time to admit that socialists have taken over the DemocRat AND Republican parties.
Claire Wolde, are we still in the awkward stage?
That motherf****r needs to be defeated by any means necessary.
Yet another Republican who has ‘evolved’.
He’ll eventually wind up in jail with all the other ex-Governors.
“And while we’re on the subject, when is the Planned Parenthood defunding?”
We knew that would never happen after learning Ivanka had that ‘secret’ meeting with them several months ago.
This news will help William Kelly, a conservative Republican, win the governor primary.
They just turned a deaf ear to those unpleasant facts and gushed about how "he's the ONLY one talking REAL reforms" and "we need a businessman and outsider like Rauner who's gonna shake up the system and clean up Springfield." and how the other three candidates were "status quo career politicians" (nevermind that they were actual Republicans with proven pro-life records)
I remember bashing Rauner during the primary and saying he was a liberal combiner and couldn't be trusted. His fans here rushed to his defense and sneered "Wow, you’re sooo judgemental! Accusing him of being a liberal! He’s trying to HELP our state! Have you actually MET Bruce Rauner?” (Yes, I had met him twice during the 2014 primary, and he came across as slimy both times. Something very fake about that guy)
To his credit, I remember Impy calling out the "Tea Party conservatives" pimping Rauner and pointing out they were heaping praise on a guy with a past track record WORSE than Topinka.
So, we ended up with a "Republican" nominee who was, quite literally, in bed with the Democrats, and now conservatives seem shocked he stabbed us in the back. Reminds me of the Ahhhhhhhhnuld cheerleaders in California shocked that Ahhhhhhhnuld did the Democrats bidding.
I have zero sympathy for the conservatives who were warned about Rauner and laughed it off. Elections have consequences.
Hopefully you are correct. But you can count on the establishment supporting the RINO or encouraging others to run to split the conservative vote.
Illinois RHINO/abortion bill ping.
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