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News Thursday, Sep 28 2017

Gov. Rauner’s Politically Convenient Decision Means Nothing For Illinois Women

Sep 28, 2017

Today, Governor Rauner announced he would sign HB40, a decision he made after vowing to anti-choice groups that he would veto the legislation. This isn’t the first time he’s made the politically convenient choice… and he certainly has refused to stand up for Illinois women before.

Just last week, Rauner refused to stand up to the Graham-Cassidy plan, which would have rolled back Medicaid support, particularly disrupting states like Illinois that expanded Medicaid.  Rauner wouldn’t even sign on to a letter from a group of bipartisan governors opposing the plan, fearing political backlash from conservative donors.

In Illinois, more than 3 million residents were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP programs, and the eligibility levels were highest for pregnant women and children. Additionally, 71% of public fundingfor family planning in the state came from Medicaid in 2010 and those services provided a safety net for families, saving nearly $260 million in public funds. In 2014, 772,510 Illinois women were in need of publicly supported contraceptive services.

American Bridge spokesperson Lizzy Price made the following statement:

“Governor Rauner has refused to stand up to President Trump’s health care plan that would have gutted funding for women’s health including maternity care and preventative cancer screenings and could have made women, once again, pay more for their health care. Make no mistake–Rauner has sold women out before and he’ll do it again the second it’s politically convenient.”


Published: Sep 28, 2017

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