Prairie State Wire

Illinois GOP Chairman Don Tracy is questioning the leak of a draft opinion by the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade. 

The draft judgment was released last week, signaling the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision to legalize abortion would be overturned. Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, authored by Samuel Alito, is projected to be a 5-4 vote when it is finalized. States could then prohibit or restrict the practice via criminal law.

“It goes without saying the biggest news of the past week was the unprecedented leak of a draft majority opinion of the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, which would return the issue of regulating abortion back to the states, where it would have remained but for activist judicial legislating by the Roe v Wade majority,” Tracy said in his weekly memo. “The intentional leak of this draft opinion is deeply troubling and is by all indications an attempt by the radical left to intimidate members of the Supreme Court."

Tracy said it was Democrats who have the extreme position on abortion.

"Democrats only care about 'norms' when they don't stand in the way of getting what they want — which is nationwide unfettered access to abortions up until the moment of birth, and covered by Medicaid," Tracy said. "Democrats running for office across the country were asked very clearly this week in interviews, 'Do you support ANY restrictions on abortions?' — and they almost all said 'No.' Even so-called 'moderate' Democrats said 'No.' "That position - whether you are pro-life or pro-choice — is wildly out of touch with the views of Americans in poll after poll. Republicans are not the extreme ones on abortion. Democrats are.”

Abortion facilities in the state have been increasing their capacity in the past few years in anticipation of an influx of people seeking abortions. Planned Parenthood has set up a number of new abortion clinics along the border of Illinois with GOP-controlled states in recent years. According to the organization, abortion providers have projected a five-fold rise in abortions.

The number of abortions in Illinois has nearly doubled as conservative neighboring states ban abortions through civil penalties. Minors undergoing unaccompanied abortions are projected to rise in the state, which is becoming a popular destination for abortion seekers.

In December, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill repealing the 1995 Parental Notice of Abortion Act. It repealed a requirement that parents of minors seeking an abortion be notified by abortion providers. "With reproductive rights under attack across the nation, Illinois is once again establishing itself as a leader in ensuring access to healthcare services,” Pritzker said in a press release, Prairie State Wire previously reported.