Lt. Gov. Stratton asks federal government for assistance to cover abortion care

[July 13, 2022]  By Andrew Hensel | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois' lieutenant governor is asking the federal government for taxpayer-funded assistance for an expected increase in the number of out-of-state residents seeking abortions in the Land of Lincoln.

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing Tuesday to discuss the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning of Roe v. Wade, sending the issue of abortion rights and restrictions back to states.

Illinois Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton appeared before the committee and asked for more federal help for the state as she expects more people will come to Illinois to terminate a pregnancy.

"The entire staff in our state's abortion clinics are fielding phone calls for appointments because the number of out-of-state patients has doubled since Roe v. Wade was overturned," Stratton said. "That is on top of the nearly 10,000 women who came to Illinois seeking abortion care."

More than 9,600 out-of-state residents terminated their pregnancies in Illinois in 2020, something that's expected to increase as other states restrict access to the procedure.

Stratton said she worries about the safety of all involved.

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton testifies in front of a U.S. Senate committee July 12, 2022.
U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee

"It's not just the patients, it's also the abortion care providers, that also could potentially risk that same sort of criminalization," Stratton said. "So we are working with our state's leaders, are gathering to talk about how we can continue to expand and further enshrine reproductive rights into state law."

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has called for Illinois state lawmakers to hold a special session on the issue, but no date has been set.

During Tuesday's committee hearing, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told witnesses the court's decision returns the issue back to more accountable state lawmakers.

"If you disagree with the abortion laws in your state, you have an outlet," Cruz said. "You are not forced to live under the rule of unelected judges operating as philosopher kings and decreeing for 330 million Americans."

Cruz called abortion a "tragedy."

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, criticized the court's decision.

"This radical regressive vision for America is eroding the court's institutional integrity," Durbin said.

Andrew Hensel has years of experience as a reporter and pre-game host for the Joliet Slammers, and as a producer for the Windy City Bulls. A graduate of Iowa Wesleyan University and Illinois Media School, Andrew lives in the south suburbs of Chicago.