New Illinois bill looks to give abortion seekers and providers tax credits

[February 20, 2024]  By Catrina Petersen | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) – A new measure would provide a $500 tax credit for abortion providers, abortion seekers, legal guardians of abortion seekers and public school teachers who move to Illinois due to abortion bans and content-based restrictions on educational materials in other states.

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, introduced the measure and said in a social media post that Illinois wants to offer a hand up for those fleeing for their safety from states she said are banning health care and speech.

“In turn, these new residents will bring their talents & contributions to our communities. It’s a win-win,” Cassidy said on X, formerly Twitter.

Mark Dickson, Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn founder and director with Right To Life of East Texas, said Cassidy’s House Bill 5152 is part of an agenda he said is destructive. Dickson said municipalities have an obligation to take care of their residents.

"It’s going to be a North and South battle. Not everyone has the same views as Gov. J.B. Pritzker up north,” said Dickson.

Dickson was in Danville, Illinois, in the spring of 2023 and worked with the Danville City Council to pass an ordinance that limits access to abortion. Dickson said he was recently in Springfield, Illinois, for a pro-life event.

"I believe that Springfield could one day be a sanctuary city for the unborn, and I know Pritzker wouldn’t like that, but if he doesn’t like it then he can move,” said Dickson.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, 20,000 residents from out of state came to Illinois to terminate a pregnancy after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the United State Supreme Court.

"Some states, people go there for skiing, good food or entertainment venues. But what do you go to Illinois for? Abortion,” said Dickson.

Dickson said Pritzker’s agenda is united with the Biden administration’s agenda to provide abortion access in every zip code.

"They [the administrations] want to glorify abortion as if it is a part of American culture and in reality, it’s not,” said Dickson.

Planned Parenthood of Illinois said Illinois is a “beacon” for access to abortion.

“We will never stop fighting to ensure everyone can access the health care they need – free from harassment, intimidation, or threats,” the group said in a statement about protections for abortion providers. “Because Illinois is a critical access point for abortion care in the Midwest, abortion providers are targets for violence and aggressive harassment from anti-abortion extremists.”

State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, said Illinoisans must oppose Cassidy’s bill.

“The message from the far-left is you can’t have a tax credit to help low-income families, but if it's related to abortion or woke teaching policies it's OK,” Niemerg said in a statement. “We have seen many other states protect the rights of the unborn and protect our kids in schools, but Illinois has gone the opposite direction. We have many great teachers and educators in Illinois. It is my hope they stand against this bill, we must oppose this type of legislation or our future will be lost.”