North Cook News

Katie Miller says Gov. Bruce Rauner broke a promise when he signed into law legislation expanding abortion coverage in Illinois.

The 53rd District candidate hoping to unseat Rep. Dave Harris (R-Arlington Heights) used her Facebook page to reject having taxpayer-subsidized abortions under Medicaid and state insurance. 

“On April 14th, Gov. Rauner publicly promised that he would veto the forced taxpayer funding of abortion,” Miller wrote. “Today, he broke his promise. The legislation forces all Illinoisans to pay for abortions through all nine months of pregnancy – even when the unborn child can feel pain and survive outside the womb for any reason.”

Miller detailed how the controversial measure changes the scope of abortions under state funding. 

“Under current law, Medicaid covers abortions in the cases of rape, incest, and when the health or life of the mother is deemed to be at risk,” Miller wrote. “House Bill 40 drastically expands Medicaid coverage for abortions, providing free abortions at any point in the pregnancy and for any reason.”

She said in the face of Illinois’ $14 billion financial crisis, adding the cost of elective operations is detrimental to taxpayers. 

“This legislation will add an additional financial cost of between $1.8 and $21 million dollars (depending on the estimate) on the taxpayers of Illinois,” Miller wrote. “Taxpayers should not have to pay for elective abortions that they do not agree with and cannot afford.”