Illinois Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Protect Abortion Rights

A female lawmaker in Illinois is pushing to protect abortion rights in her state.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Democratic State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz proposed a bill that would remove the state’s “trigger provision,“ which would make abortion immediately illegal if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The legislation would also enable women with Medicaid or state employee health insurance to get abortions under their coverage.

“We really have to protect Illinois women and make an affirmative statement as a General Assembly that says Illinois is going to be a state where abortion is safe and legal no matter what happens with the Supreme Court and Donald Trump,” Feigenholtz told the Tribune.

Feigenholtz’s bill passed a state House committee on Wednesday. However, it still needs approval from the full House and Senate, as well as a signature from Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Feigenholtz’s bill isn’t the only initiative introduced on Wednesday to help women, either. Other proposals include paid sick time and paid family medical leave, as well as a bill that would make feminine hygiene products free for state students in grades 6-12.

Efforts to protect women’s reproductive rights are underway in New York too, where Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his intention to draft a ballot amendment to codify abortion rights into the state’s constitution. New York’s attorney general also proposed a bill that would require both public and private insurers to cover birth control at no cost as a safeguard in case House Republicans succeed in repealing the Affordable Care Act.

[The Chicago Tribune]