Posted by Eric Scheidler (March 28, 2010 at 5:05 pm)
All the phone calls, e-mails, protests, legislator visits and prayers have paid off! Friday’s deadline for the passage of new legislation by the Illinois House of Representatives came and went without HB6205—the “Illinois FOCA” bill—ever coming up for a vote.
Realizing they were short of the votes needed for passage, the House leadership chose to send the bill back to the Rules Committee, which means that it is effectively dead for the year. We’ll continue to watch the House for any further developments—for example, a move to extend the deadline for this bill—but there seems little hope for HB6205 in 2010.
Thanks to all those who called, e-mailed and visited their State Representatives. Thanks to all who offered prayers or joined protests down in Springfield or at district offices across the state.
And a special thanks to our pro-life lobbyists: Ralph Rivera of Illinois Citizens for Life and Bob Gilligan of the Illinois Catholic Conference. Their tireless efforts down in Springfield and their wisdom and guidance for the whole pro-life community of Illinois made this victory possible. Well done, Ralph and Bob!
Posted by Matt Yonke (March 22, 2010 at 11:17 am)
A protest will be held this afternoon, Monday, March 22, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the district office of Rep. Kay Hatcher (map) in protest of HB6205.
If you’re in the 50th District—or anywhere near—please join in this important protest today.
For more information, check out the Facebook Event for the protest. Let’s let Rep. Hatcher know where the people stand on this wicked, pro-abortion bill!
Posted by Eric Scheidler (March 18, 2010 at 3:42 pm)
The regular session for approving new legislation in the Illinois House of Representatives ends in just nine days, on March 26. If we can prevent HB6205 from coming up for a vote by that deadline—like we did last year—we will have effectively beaten the bill.
We’re already storming Springfield with our calls and visits, so now let’s storm the gates of Heaven with our prayers that this bill will never pass.
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Posted by Alicia Torres (March 17, 2010 at 2:53 pm)
On Wednesday March 17, 2010 at 7:00 p.m., concerned citizens and constituents of the 44th District will gather at Representative Fred Crespo’s district office, 1014 E. Schaumburg Road, Streamwood, IL 60107, to hold a prayer vigil in opposition to Illinois House Bill 6205, the Reproductive Health and Access Act.
This bill, up for a vote in the Illinois General Assembly, concerns citizens for many reasons. The chief concern is that HB 6205 will radically expand taxpayer funding for abortion and other “reproductive health care” services. HB 6205 will also rescind local control of sex education programs and mandate comprehensive sex education in high schools and elementary schools statewide.
“HB 6205 is not about freedom of choice, it is about using our tax dollars to pay for elective abortion and other services that many citizens contentiously object to. With our state in a dire financial crisis, it is wrong to even consider such a broad expansion of tax-payer funding of abortion,” said Maureen Deitche, a member of Girl’s Health First, who lives in Crespo’s district.
Rep. Fred Crespo is not co-sponsoring HB 6205 at this time, but will not commit to opposing the bill. Citizens are gathering at his district office for a peaceful prayer vigil, to encourage Crespo to make a commitment to oppose HB 6205.
Posted by Mary-Louise Kurey (March 15, 2010 at 8:52 pm)
Here is the testimony testimony I gave to the House Human Services Committee regarding this year’s Illinois FOCA bill. Read this testimony to become more acquainted with specifics on the key provisions of the bill. The two worst provisions are:
Radically expanded public funding of abortion, in-vitro ferilization, sterilization and other procedures
Under HB 6205, Illinois taxpayers would be forced to pay for abortions for all state employees, Medicaid recipients, people enrolled in All Kids, S-CHIP and any other state medical assistance program. At a time when our state is facing a $10 billion to $13 billion shortfall and can barely make its Medicaid payments on essential health care for the poor like dialysis and nursing care, special-interest groups are trying to create their own “bailout package.”
Mandatory comprehensive sex education for all Illinois public schools on the elementary and high school levels
While they say it would be “age appropriate,” anyone who looks at the national guidelines for comprehensive sex ed curricula published by SIECUS (the nation’s leading comprehensive sex ed advocacy group) would be shocked at the “Developmental Messages” for 5-8 year-olds.
Check out my testimony [PDF] to read more, but beware . . . this is not G-rated!
Posted by John-Paul (March 15, 2010 at 5:01 pm)
Today, Monday March 15, 2010 at 7:00 p.m., concerned citizens and constituents of the 2nd District will gather at Representative Eddie Acevedo’s district office, 2021 W. 35th St.Chicago, IL 60609, to hold a prayer vigil in opposition to Illinois House Bill 6205, the Reproductive Health and Access Act.
This bill, up for a vote in the Illinois General Assembly, concerns citizens for many reasons. The chief concern is that HB 6205 will radically expand taxpayer funding for abortion and other “reproductive health care” services. HB 6205 will also rescind local control of sex education programs and mandate comprehensive sex education in high schools and elementary schools statewide.
“HB 6205 is not about freedom of choice, it is about using our tax dollars to pay for elective abortion and other services that many citizens contentiously object to. With our state in a dire financial crisis, it is wrong to even consider such a broad expansion of tax-payer funding of abortion,” said Roy Pletsch, Ph.D., a retired principal who lives in Rep. Acevedo’s district and is a member of the McKinley Park Civic Association.
Rep. Eddie Acevedo was a co-sponsor of HB 2354, the 2009 version of the Reproductive Health and Access Act. Acevedo is not co-sponsoring HB 6205 at this time, but will not commit to opposing the bill. Citizens are gathering at his district office for a peaceful prayer vigil, to encourage Acevedo to make a commitment to oppose HB 6205.
Please join us tonight to let Rep. Acevedo know we want him to oppose HB 6205!
Posted by Alicia Torres (March 11, 2010 at 4:03 pm)
The Barbra Flynn Currie Special–Reproductive Health and Access Act–has been served into the Springfield legislative line up and made it back to the House Floor! Everyone already knows this much—that HB 6205 is now eligible for a full vote in the House, but in case you missed my play-by-play of the committee hearing (which you can still enjoy @nunrun), I was there…and here is what really happened:
A boisterous crowd was gathered in a 4th Floor room of the Stratton Office Building in Springfield by 8 AM. When the reps finally rolled in, Naomi Jacobson (committee chairwoman) called (dis)order, and the hearing ensued. [Continue reading ...]
Posted by John-Paul (March 11, 2010 at 12:30 pm)
Francis Cardinal George of the Archdiocese of Chicago has sent a letter to his flock to encourage all Catholics and men and women of good will to contact their representatives to stop HB 6205 - Illinois FOCA. The Cardinal focuses his attention mainly on the fact that the Illinois FOCA will force us all to pay for abortions through our taxes. This clearly violates the consciences Illinois Catholics and of the majority of Illinois residents.
Here’s an excerpt from his letter:
House Bill 6205 violates the conscientious objection of many citizens. In 1844, Abraham Lincoln broke with his own party, the often anti-Catholic Whigs, and proposed: “Resolved, that the guarantee of the rights of conscience, as found in our Constitution, is most sacred and inviolable, and one that belongs no less to the Catholic, than to the Protestant; and that all attempts to abridge or interfere with these rights, either of Catholic or Protestant, directly or indirectly, have our decided disapprobation, and shall ever have our most effective opposition.” Lincoln’s position is as valid today as it was last year and in 1844. The tax dollars of Catholics and many other conscientious people must not be used to subsidize the taking of innocent human life.
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Posted by Eric Scheidler (March 10, 2010 at 12:02 pm)
This morning, the Illinois House of Representatives Human Services Committee passed HB6205, the Illinois FOCA, on a vote of 5-2. Alicia Torres of the Archdiocese of Chicago Respect Life Office live-tweeted the hearing this morning and broke the disappointing news.
I don’t have information on who our two pro-life, pro-family, pro-sanity votes were, but I assume one of them was Republican Patricia R. Bellock, who raised numerous objections to the bill during the hearing. More details to come soon.
What this means is that we have to step up pressure on the entire House. Alicia reported that many Representatives attended the hearing. They’re clearly interested in this bill, which means they all need to hear from us again. And again. And again.
Get talking points and contact links for your State Rep here.
