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* CBS News…
Planned Parenthood of Illinois has been preparing for years in case Roe fell, building a facility in Waukegan (about eight miles from the Wisconsin border), and another near Indiana.
Speaking ahead of the Supreme Court’s decision last Friday, MAC’s executive director Diana Parker-Kafka said demand for her organization’s services had already tripled this year. “Like, my phone’s vibrating every five seconds now,” she said.
And she worries that, without Roe, Illinois healthcare facilities would be stretched to capacity.
Diaz asked, “Do you expect people will have to be turned away?”
“Oh yeah. Yeah. There will be people that we won’t be able to see through their abortion care that need it. And we’re also thinking about plans on how to support those people.”
Map…
* The Tribune looks at the lay of the land in surrounding states…
Indiana
Republican legislative leaders said Friday they expected lawmakers to act on tightening Indiana’s abortion laws during a special legislative session starting July 6, but gave no details about what restrictions would be considered. Gov. Holcomb earlier this week called the Legislature into a special session to take up a tax refund proposal, but state law allows legislators to consider any subject. […]Kentucky
What’s next: Abortion-rights activists say the suspension of abortion services in April foreshadowed what would happen in Kentucky and other Republican-leaning states if Roe v. Wade was overturned. It likely ends several legal challenges pending against other Kentucky abortion laws including a 2018 measure that abortion-rights supporters say would effectively ban a standard abortion method in the second trimester of pregnancy. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in March that Kentucky’s Republican attorney general, Daniel Cameron, can defend the measure that was struck down by lower courts. […]Ohio
What’s next: It is not clear what will happen next in Ohio. Activists are considering how to help Ohioans get abortions elsewhere. They may also mount a statewide ballot initiative that would embed the right to an abortion in the state constitution, though that could not happen before next year. Abortion opponents are weighing strategies for imposing a statewide abortion ban if Roe is overturned.
* More on Indiana from WLS TV…
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb is calling the General Assembly back on July 6 and expects members to take up an abortion ban then, saying, “I have been clear in stating I am pro-life. We have an opportunity to make progress in protecting the sanctity of life, and that’s exactly what we will do.”
* NPR looks at California…
State lawmakers’ proposed Abortion Practical Support Fund would help by providing grants to nonprofits like Access Reproductive Justice or Planned Parenthood, which can then be used to help people, in state and out-of-state, pay for logistical costs, including airfare, taxis, gas money, childcare, or translation services. They can also be used to fund the work of staffers such as abortion navigators, or volunteer coordinators like Gray.
Local anti-abortion activists oppose the proposal.
“We’re calling it ‘abortion tourism,’” says Greg Burt, a Sacramento-based advocate with the California Family Council. “Come to California, go to the beach, get your abortion done and we’ll pay for it, by the taxpayer.”
* Tribune…
More than 45,000 people received abortions in Illinois in 2020, according to the most recent data available from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Most of those who got abortions in Illinois were residents, with 36,000 patients from counties across the state. Yet, the majority of in-state patients were from a select few counties in the northeastern part of the state near Chicago — Cook, DuPage, Will and Lake — as well as St. Clair County near St. Louis.
That’s where most of the people and the clinics are…
There are 17 Planned Parenthood of Illinois clinics in Illinois that provide medicated abortion, said Mary Jane Maharry, interim director of marketing and communications for PPIL. Only six of those are outside the Chicagoland area: Bloomington, Champaign, Decatur, Ottawa, Peoria and Springfield.
Surgical abortion is less available, however. The closest Planned Parenthood locations providing in-clinic abortions to Peoria is Springfield, while the closest to Rockford is Aurora.
* The Republican gubernatorial candidates…
Irvin, Sullivan, and Schimpf also support abortion in cases of rape and incest. Rabine does not.
After repeated attempts for clarification, Bailey’s campaign manager didn’t directly answer the question about abortion in cases rape or incest, but would only say Bailey would back legislation supporting the expectant mother and saving unborn lives.
* Tribune on the November political angle…
The court’s ruling is likely to have a minimal effect on Tuesday’s primary in Illinois, where voters choose partisan ballots. It will likely resound more strongly in the November general election, when each party will work to galvanize its base while also trying to sway independent voters.
As always, a key factor in the fall will be the vote of socially moderate and fiscally conservative suburban women. Democrats will portray the ruling as a Republican-led attack on women’s rights as well as their right to privacy, and also a precursor for attempts to restrict other rights such as same-sex marriage and legal protections for the LGBTQ community.
With Democrats facing election headwinds on the economy, crime and political corruption, Pritzker said he thinks the court’s decision will rally voters behind his party.
“A strong majority people in the state of Illinois are pro-choice,” he said. “I believe that people are going to come out and vote in very big numbers to protect their individual rights.”
* WLDS…
Jacksonville State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer blasted Governor J.B. Pritzker for calling a special session of the General Assembly to work on codifying abortion rights into state law. Pritzker called for the special session in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s repeal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Pritzker hasn’t talked about exact specifics of what he wants lawmakers to put into law after the repeal.
Davidsmeyer says the State of Illinois needs to work on issues that aren’t already settled: “Illinois is a destination for abortion already. The Democrats have already legalized everything that they can possibly do with abortion including: taxpayer-funded elective abortions, as well as a 12-year old being able to go into their doctor and get an abortion without even notifying their parents. Illinois is going to waste money – hundreds of thousands of dollars – to come back [to session] for something like this when Downstate communities are talking about having rolling brown outs because of lack of energy; we’ve got $5 gasoline; we’ve got inflation going through the roof…and we’re going to bring back a special session so that the governor and the Democrats can make a special point about an issue that the State of Illinois has already decided. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that we are wasting this time and money.”
* Better Government Association President David Greising on WBBM over the weekend…
Special sessions are a big deal. Last summer Pritzker denied calls for one focused on ethics. He also hasn’t held one to address the state’s woeful finances. Some will say Pritzker’s call for a special session is political posturing. When we see the agenda he lays out, we’ll learn if they’re right.
Woeful finances?
* More…
* Creating a Haven State - Diana Parker-Kafka and the Midwest Access Coalition help women with the logistics of traveling to Illinois for abortions: An interesting statistic about traveling out of state is how much more expensive that gets: Oh yeah. Women from Texas [where abortion is banned six weeks after conception and soon will be illegal altogether] who come here seven weeks pregnant or even six weeks and two days pregnant pay for a procedure — one that might have cost them $300 before — the $300, plus $500 in gas, plus $300 for a hotel room.
* Lawmakers and historian respond to SCOTUS abortion decision
* Abortion rights opponents cheer Supreme Court decision
* With Roe overturned, a new Illinois nonprofit has begun providing free light aircraft flights for patients traveling to get an abortion
* From police raids to reproductive justice, abortion history in Illinois is long and bumpy
* Abortion profoundly shaped the lives and work of these 8 Illinois women. Here are their stories.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:15 pm
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===He also hasn’t held one to address the state’s woeful finances.===
Blagojevich / Filan, Quinn / Filan / Vaught, and Rauner all called saying THEY were the one(s) with woeful finances.
Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:20 pm
BGA must still be hoping for a few more checks from Grif before the last U-Haul leaves for Florida.
Comment by Concerned Dem Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:22 pm
-Bailey’s campaign manager didn’t directly answer the question about abortion in cases of rape or incest, but would only say Bailey would back legislation supporting the expectant mother and saving unborn lives.-
We’ll take that as a no.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:23 pm
== Planned Parenthood of Illinois has been preparing for years in case Roe fell … ==
If they’ve been preparing for years, why do they want more money from the State now?
Comment by RNUG Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:26 pm
General reminder that CHOICES: Memphis Center for Reproductive Health is opening a clinic in Carbondale. I’ve seen surprisingly little coverage outside of our local papers, even though it’s brought protests and speakers to the last two city council meetings. Interested to see if it continues at tomorrow’s meeting.
Comment by Shibboleth Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:27 pm
==Blagojevich / Filan, Quinn / Filan / Vaught, and Rauner all called saying THEY were the one(s) with woeful finances.==
Don’t forget George Ryan at least starting July 1, 2000. The beginning of that year’s gas tax suspension for “only” $1.50ish gasoline.
Comment by Just Saying Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:27 pm
===BGA must still be hoping for===
If you look at his 2021 donor list, the opinion probably lines up with most of them, except former Sen. Steans and her spouse https://www.bettergov.org/2021-donor-list/
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:35 pm
That map tells me Planned Parenthood of Illinois is going to need more clinics.
Basically where all the riverboats/casinos are or across the border from the fireworks megastores.
The most important clinic to me though seems like it would be in a place like Metropolis.
I know it would be hard to staff and hard to get community acceptance for an abortion clinic in Southern Illinois, but every inch of soil in the Free State of Illinois needs to play a part in protecting women. Where else are women in the Deep South going to be able to travel by car?
If not Metropolis then maybe Carbondale makes sense because it’s a college town and on an Amtrak route that goes to New Orleans, but that seems like it would be duplicative of the Metro East location in many ways.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:38 pm
Bus’em in, vacuum em out, bus’em home, send Illinois taxpayers the bill.
Comment by ACMW Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:52 pm
Is there a clinic in the works for the Quad Cities? I was looking at a kind of hasty-looking map in the New York Times and was surprised not to see one, basically alone among Illinois’ major metro areas (other than Rockford at the edge of Chicagoland). There’s a couple in eastern Iowa that may not be long for the world, other than that the nearest PP seems to be in Ottawa or Peoria.
Comment by 48th Ward Heel Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:54 pm
@RNUG - I am guessing Planned Parenthood wants more funding because the number of abortions in Illinois will go up due to out of staters in a way that was not an issue to the same extent with Roe still in effect.
As to Rep. Davidsmeyer’s comment - Yes $5 a gallon gasoline and inflation are big concerns right now.
All the more reason women may need access to reproductive healthcare that may allow them to keep working, avoid major medical bills, and avoid huge additional childcare expenses
Republicans may like to imagine every woman who gets an abortion is some promiscuous woman who got knocked up from a one night stand but many abortions involve married women who already have children and who simply can’t afford having another one in a country where: 1) women get 0 days paid maternity leave as a matter of law, 2) many women of reproductive age are drowning in college student loan debt, and 3) the costs of raising a child are so astronomical.
That’s not even getting into all the health reasons women may get abortions.
There may be a way for the GOP to message this issue in their favor to voters but saying Dems care too much about women’s rights getting stripped away ain’t it.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 3:57 pm
Wow. I cannot help but think of the political ramifications for the GOP in WI, MI, and OH. I can’t imagine that in the long term this won’t hurt the Repubs. I’ve been wrong before, though!
Comment by Paddyrollingstone Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 4:10 pm
==a place like Metropolis==
Could be a hard sell, as well as hard to protect… I like your Carbondale idea better, and it sounds like a group is already trying there.
Comment by Vote Quimby Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 4:13 pm
“Last summer Pritzker denied calls for one focused on ethics. He also hasn’t held one to address the state’s woeful finances.”
So he denied holding special sessions on ILGOP talking points? Got it.
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 4:31 pm
=If not Metropolis then maybe Carbondale=
CARBONDALE, Ill. (KFVS) - We are learning more about a Memphis reproductive health center’s plans to bring an abortion clinic to Carbondale.
The CEO of Choices Memphis said they chose Carbondale for its central location. Soon after, they had the support of city leaders and the health care community.
“It feels like we’ve relocated to Carbondale some days,” said Jennifer Pepper, CEO of Choices Memphis Center for Reproductive Health. “We’ve spent lots of time there and spent lots of time in the community since November working with folks. And we are hoping, we’re planning to hire lots of folks locally in Carbondale.”
Comment by Shibboleth Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 4:47 pm
- ACMW -
This may be one of the most, if not the most, callous and crude comments that I have ever read on this site. Your feeble attempt at humor is not only juvenile, but cruel; and it belittles the very real challenges that women face in having to access care safely under the most dire of circumstances. I’m also somewhat shocked that such a comment would even be allowed to remain up on the site.
Comment by Comfortable Shoes Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 4:47 pm
With Ken Griffin leaving town, maybe the BGA should hold a special hearing on how to replace its potentially lost income?
Comment by Mike K Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 4:48 pm
Adding, they hope to open in August. Cited the proximity to Amtrak, the supportive community, and access to space near downtown.
Comment by Shibboleth Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 4:49 pm
=but that seems like it would be duplicative of the Metro East location in many ways=
As a last note, there are similarities, but the main issue is proximity by rail. To reach the metro east from New Orlean, Memphis, etc. passengers would need to go all the way up to Chicago or west to San Antonio before they’re on the right rails.
Comment by Shibboleth Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 4:53 pm
Once again, vapid GOP talking points from C.D. Davidsmeyer, coupled with cluelessness about the impact of forced-birth politics on his own constituents, most of whom, unlike him, don’t come from inherited wealth. I wish he’d stuck with baseball and eschewed politics.
Comment by Crispy Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 4:59 pm
@Shibboleth - Good to hear.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 5:02 pm
On the bright side as young doctors all over the country complete their residencies this week and become attending physicians that are about to start their first position as an attending physician may decide to take their practice to Illinois where they won’t have to accept the government requiring them shrug their shoulders while their patient dies.
Regardless of their area of practice.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 5:07 pm
@Candy
This is why states like Illinois will attract the best doctors and states like Texas will welcome physicians like Dr. Nick from The Simpsons.
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 5:14 pm
@ Proud Papa Bear
Pretty sure the lack of state income tax will send many of the best doctors to Texas.
Comment by Southern Dude Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 7:15 pm
Could BGA please swap real estate with a Florida clinic?
Comment by Phineas Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 7:16 pm
I’m all for going into the myriad reasons women need to have an abortion just to convince. but, bottom line, the woman can do whatever she wants. that’s agency. and that is why I am for reproductive choices, no matter the circumstances of a woman. no one should be shamed or pampered into having a child. Her choice.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Jun 27, 22 @ 8:29 pm
@Southern Dude
Keep clinging to that mentality.
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 7:13 am
@SouthernDude
Doctors deserve to be well compensated. That said, any doctor who is most motivated by a desire to make money should practice medicine in Texas rather than Illinois.
Comment by Righteous Brothers Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 7:56 am
===any doctor who is most motivated by a desire to make money should practice medicine in Texas rather than Illinois.===
What do you base this on?
Thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 28, 22 @ 7:58 am