Democratic Illinois House OKs Public Funding for Abortions

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

Gov. Bruce Rauner, who has previously supported pro-abortion rights legislation, pledged earlier this month to veto Feigenholtz's bill after pressure from his Republican colleagues.

IL lawmakers return to Springfield Tuesday to continue working on getting a balanced budget. The Illinois State Assembly synopsis of the bill says it would remove language from state law and policy "that the unborn child is a human being from the time of conception and is, therefore, a legal person for purposes of the unborn child's right to life". The legislation allows for Medicaid recipients to use that government health insurance to cover an abortion. Medicaid now covers abortions in limited cases.

"Where should this money come from?" asked Republican Rep. Peter Breen of Lombard, who said Medicaid-funded abortions do not qualify for a federal match and would cost IL an extra $60 million a year.

IL lawmakers are returning to the Capitol this week to resume work on trying to end a budget stalemate that has eluded them for nearly two years.

Arkansas Executes Two More Inmates, Another Scheduled Thursday
Arkansas carried out the executions of two death row inmates Monday, the first double execution in the United States since 2000. Ledell Lee was put to death last week while the next execution, of Kenneth Dewayne Williams, is scheduled for Thursday.

The bill cleared committee and is expected to be called for a vote tomorrow. We're going to add more to the debt in the state of IL.

The downgrade last week of Western Illinois University's debt rating won't have any operational impact, a university official said Monday, but it is yet another sign that state officials need to resolve the two-year budget impasse.

There are countless other bills that are expected to be heard this week as the final six weeks of session kick off.

Senate President John Cullerton and Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno are working on a bipartisan solution, their spokespeople said. Governor Rauner was not in Springfield Tuesday, but all four Democratic gubernatorial candidates were there in person, taking advantage of the rally to press the flesh and campaign for votes.