In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to return the
issue of regulating abortion back to the states led to multiple
states, including several neighboring Illinois, restricting the
procedure. Since then, Illinois has seen an increase of
out-of-state patients coming to the Land of Lincoln for the
procedure.
Pritzker said he believes the issue is still very important in
the next election.
"I
think this is a real issue in 2024, even if you heard a lot
about it in 2022. It is still here, and it's getting worse,"
Pritzker said. "I think that's going to drive people to the
polls."
Pritzker joined Hillary Clinton and Michigan Gov. Gretchen
Whitmer on stage during a panel discussion for the Clinton
Foundation on Tuesday.
Many have approached Pritzker and thanked him for his work in
expanding access to abortion, according to the governor.
"People in deep red Trump territory, and it was mostly women,
would walk up to me and lean in a whisper 'thank you so much for
preserving our right to choose,' " Pritzker said.
In January, Pritzker approved House Bill 4664, which aims to
protect people seeking abortions, assisted reproduction and
gender reassignment procedures in Illinois while expanding who
can perform these procedures. There was also House Bill 3326
signed into law, which limits other states' ability to access
automatic license plate reader data in Illinois to punish
someone from out of state seeking an abortion in Illinois.
Among other policies in Illinois, the state no longer requires
parental notification for a minor to terminate a pregnancy.
Those opposed to abortion criticize Illinois' policies as being
too extreme.
As Illinois continues to have some of the least restrictive
abortion laws in the nation, 14 states voted to outlaw most
abortions following the Supreme Court's decision.
Pritzker said another thing they can not forget is adoption.
"There are children who need adoption, and we do need to make
sure that we are also promoting adoption," Pritzker said. "That
we are helping young women and women of childbearing age to make
a decision for themselves."
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