Prairie State Wire

Illinois GOP chairman Don Tracy is applauding the U.S. Supreme Court for overturning Roe V. Wade, which made abortion legal in all states. Now, abortion will be allowed to be outlawed on a state-by-state basis. 

The 6-3 ruling has outraged some, while others celebrate. Tracy acknowledges these results. 

“Today, millions of prayers have been answered,” Tracy said in his weekly memo. “Abortion is a very difficult and controversial topic in which real lives — of both mothers and babies — are deeply affected. Because of this monumental ruling, the regulation of abortion is now being left to individual states as it should be. I support our state party platform that values the dignity of all life, from conception to natural death, and applaud the six Supreme Court Justices who had the courage to be real judges instead of judicial legislators. Judges should interpret the law, not make law." 

Tracy encouraged people to verbalize their opinions in a peaceful manner.

“Our country is deeply divided right now, and while I support this decision, I know this ruling will potentially make that division worse, at least in the short term, and many irresponsible people will stoke that division," he said. I implore all Illinoisans to express their opinions with respect, civility, and without violence.”

Abortion clinics in Illinois have expanded their capacity in preparation for a surge in people from out-of-state seeking abortions. Along the state's border with states controlled by Republicans, Planned Parenthood has opened a number of new abortion clinics. According to the group, abortion providers predict a five-fold rise in abortions.

The number of women seeking abortions from outside Illinois has steadily increased since 2014. 7,534 non-residents had abortions in Illinois in 2019, a 150% rise over the previous five years, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Block Club Chicago reported. Non-profit organizations that support out-of-state abortion seekers, such as the Chicago Abortion Fund, are partially responsible for the rise in the number of non-residents seeking abortions in the state.

Recently, the City of Chicago contributed $500,000 to help minorities get abortion care. The Chicago Abortion Fund and the Midwest Access Coalition are two of the groups for whom Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot designated the money. “So we've got to be ready, and we've got to step up,” Lightfoot said prior to U.S. Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v. Wade.