Illinois FOCA Bill Returns

As I predicted on November 21st last, the pro-aborts of Illinois are back for the second year in a row with their Reproductive Health and Access Act, better known as the Illinois FOCA bill. According to the Catholic Conference of Illinois, this bill would:

Like last year, this legislation seeks to: (1) pay for abortions and many other types of reproductive healthcare (including contraceptives) with public funds; (2) make any regulation of abortion beyond the purview of state and local government; and (3) demand that the proponent’s version of comprehensive sex education be taught in every school, grades K thru 12.

The supporters of House Bill 6205 claim this year’s version of the legislation excludes the Health Care Right of Conscience and Parental Notification of Abortion Acts. We have carefully read HB 6205. Their claims are incorrect. In Section 15, the legislation states that notwithstanding any other current law neither the state nor any political subdivision may “interfere” with access to abortion.

Judging by past legislative initiatives and lawsuits, the proponents obviously believe these important laws constitute state “interference” with access to abortion. This legislation is designed to set up legal challenges to both statutes and strip away health care professionals’ right of conscience and parents’ right to know of their daughters’ well being.

As I say, I warned three months ago that this was coming:



Last year, my state representative, Sandy Cole provided the swing vote in committee that passed this bill out to the House floor. This vote was one of my primary motivations for opposing her in the primary election, in which I was defeated two weeks ago.

Now, I have a couple of questions:

1. Will the Republicans who supported Rep. Cole for re-election, at least some of whom claim to be pro-life, be contacting her to urge her to oppose the bill this time?
   
2. Will they point out that their support ought to be worth this?
   
3. Will they warn Rep. Cole that if she does support this bill again, they will have to support me if I run again in 2012?
   
4. Too, there were several notable pro-life figures who encouraged and supported me quietly, but not publicly. Will they warn Mrs. Cole that if she supports this bill again, that they will publicly endorse me if I run again against her?
   
5. And what of the Illinois Catholic Conference? Why is it that they can get involved in politics to the extent of opposing this bill, but not to the extent of supporting a candidate trying to unseat a legislator who has supported this bill?
   
6. And what of Mrs. Cole herself? By election day, she was openly claiming to be a conservative. Will she refrain from supporting this bill in order to reduce my motivation to run against her again? And thereby upset the pro-aborts at Personal PAC who spent their good money to tell lies about me on her behalf?
   

I say again: Fiscal conservatism without social conservatism is unrealistic. A liberal society will never adopt conservative fiscal policies.