West Central Reporter

Illinois Republican state Sen. Jil Tracy views Democrats' push to repeal the Parental Notification of Abortion Act as lacking both compassion and common sense.

“Of all the human relationships, there's none stronger than a bond between a parent and a child, and certainly while it lasts an entire lifetime there is no better critical event in the minor years when that child needs nurturing and support and counseling from the parents,” Tracy said during an Oct. 26 news conference where the issue was raised.

Tracy argues that Democrats themselves sense the error of the proposed legislation, which explains why they have gone about advancing the measure the way they have.

“Why do bills have to be dropped in the middle of veto session when they're not being properly vetted and even allowed time to read them and let the public know what's going on?” she asked.

In the end, despite nonstop objections from Tracy and her GOP colleagues, the Democratically led House moved to give final approval on the measure that strips the right of parents or guardians to be notified when their under-18 child is seeking an abortion, Southwest Illinois News reported.

The Illinois House vote of 62 to 51 is enough to send the law to Governor J.B. Pritzker's desk, but because it didn't get a 3/5 majority or 71 votes, the repealed law won't go into effect until June 1, 2022, ABC7 Chicago reported. Sen. Elgie Sims was the Senate sponsor of the bill.

Tracy argues nothing about the move makes sense or strikes her as being in the best interest of the child.

“Most parents had to write a note for any type of medication to be given to their child at school, even if it’s just an aspirin or Tylenol,” she added. “If we say take such care in situations like that, how can we justify doing away with parental notification of abortions. I’m not talking about authorization or consent. It is notification. It’s letting the parents know their child is going to be undergoing a major medical procedure so that the parents can be aware and help provide that child with a mental and physical health care that they desperately need in such a critical time.”

In rapid-fire order, Tracy ticks off all the inconsistencies she sees in the way the state elects to deal with minors.

“For example, we vote on bills that have allowed the Cook County Public Guardian to extend the time a child is made a ward of DCFS so that they can continue under supervision until the age of 21 because again, we have been told, and I believe it's true, that the minors aren’t capable of these decisions even up to the age of 21,” she added. “Remember last year we extended the age of smoking to the age of 21 because that person who happens to be an adult doesn't have the proper maturity. So, doesn't it seem illogical that we would think that going under a major medical procedure such as an abortion shouldn't be given a chance to have the parents involved in that decision, or at least be notified that it's going to be happening?”

Following this week’s vote and with the measure now slated to go into effect on June 1, 2022 if signed, Tracy says she worries that Gov. J.B. Pritzker's methods will only continue to cause struggles for the people of the state.

“The governor's agenda in many of the bills that have been passed in the last spring session and veto session now drive wedges between parents and their children, and their responsibilities and duties to nurture and take care of their children,” she said. “It's an attack on parental rights, and it's a constant theme of this Administration, and it’s just one more example of the governor’s overreach into the lives and the homes of Illinois families.”