Republican leaders voice disagreement with Rauner approval of abortion expansion bill

SPRINGFIELD (Heartland Newsfeed) — Republican leaders from throughout the state have voiced their disapproval of Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signing the abortion expansion bill into law, House Bill 40. Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti expressed the following in her statement from Chicago:

As a pro-life Republican, I disagree with the Governor’s decision to sign HB 40. I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for a 15-year-old refugee who chose to have me and keep me. I realize this bill is a political ploy to divide the people of Illinois. While I disagree with the Governor on this, we must focus on our areas of agreement – enacting real reforms we need to turn Illinois around.

Attorney General candidate Erika Harold released the following statement from her campaign headquarters in Urbana:

The Governor personally reached out to me about his decision, and I know he did not reach it easily. While we disagree on this issue, there remains much on which we agree – and that is what unites us as Republicans. We both agree on the need to make Illinois more competitive, we agree on the need to lift up the less fortunate and we agree on the need to crack down on corruption and wrongdoing. As I have stated several times in the past, as Attorney General, I will enforce all of the laws of the state.

Tim Schneider, chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, released the following statement:

I am disappointed in the Governor’s decision to sign HB40 as the Illinois Republican Party opposes taxpayer-funded abortions. While I am frustrated and saddened, I also know that Speaker Madigan and the Democrats are trying to use this issue to divide our party and elect a Madigan-backed candidate for governor. As Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, I will not let that happen. Our state faces great challenges, and we are focused on the issues that unite us as Republicans and as Illinoisans. There is no daylight between Governor Rauner and the Illinois Republican Party and we will continue working hard to ensure his reelection and finally defeat Mike Madigan once and for all.

State representative Avery Bourne (95th District, Raymond) released her statement late Thursday afternoon:

Allowing state taxpayer dollars to pay for elective abortions is unconscionable. I was strongly opposed to House Bill 40 and am extremely disappointed that Governor Rauner plans to sign it into law. It has been a longstanding policy in Illinois and in our nation that we should not require our citizens to pay for abortions. House Bill 40 requires Illinois citizens pay for abortions for those on Medicaid and for state employees through the full nine months of pregnancy, for any reason. I wholeheartedly disagree with this legislation and will work for its repeal.

Other House and Senate Republicans as well as other state party leaders are expected to release similar statements in the coming days, but Rauner does not seem to be budging away from his decision.