Prairie State Wire

Catholic Vote President Brian Burch said Illinois legislators are increasing “the state's decline” by using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions for out of state minors. 

"Illinois is a moral and fiscal mess, and now the state house and senate would like to increase the state's decline by using your tax dollars to pay for abortions for out-of-state minors,” Burch told Prairie State Wire. “Call the governor's office and tell him to veto this terrible bill."

The Center Square is reporting that Chicago Democrat state Senator Celina Villanueva has a bill going to the governor that would allow minors to come from out of state and apply for funding through public funds to receive an abortion through Illinois’ Family Planning Program.

The proposed bill, HB 5239, also restricts the use of information regarding these individuals so that local government officials and authorities cannot use that information to impose civil or criminal liability on individuals who have received abortion care, gender affirming care, or hormone treatments in the state. 

Over twenty states have banned all gender affirming surgeries for minors, including Iowa and Indiana. 

During the debate over the legislation, state senator Jill Tracy (R-Quincy) raised questions about the bill failing to ensure that parents were informed of abortion decisions made by minors. The bill passed the Senate along party lines with 19 Republicans voting against the measure.

Madison, Wisconsin-based Catholic Vote is an advocacy organization that wants to “inspire every Catholic in America to live out the truths of our faith in public life,” according to the group’s website. Founded in 2008, its president is Brian Burch.