McHenry Times

Republican state Rep. Allen Skillicorn (East Dundee) is hoping his colleagues in Springfield can take politics out of the abortion debate.

“The question of if we should be doing all we can to preserve human life should not be political,” Skillicorn told the Kane County Reporter. “It’s our job as lawmakers to protect our most vulnerable.”

In Georgia, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has signed a so-called “fetal heartbeat bill” into law that bans all abortions where a fetal heartbeat can be detected except in instances where the mother’s life would be placed in danger by giving birth and in cases of rape or incest before the end of the fifth month of pregnancy where a formal police report is documented. Kemp’s bill, known as the Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act, passed the Georgia Republican-majority state House late last month.   

State Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee)

Up until now, women in Georgia have been able to undergo abortion procedures up until the 20th week of pregnancy. The new law is slated to take effect at the start of the new year.

“This is the right thing to do,” Skillicorn said. “Protecting human life and preserving it are defended by the Constitution. Good government strives to protect its most vulnerable.”

Skillicorn said it is time for lawmakers in Illinois do just that. Freshman Republican state Rep. Chris Miller (Oakland) recently introduced a bill that would outlaw all abortions where a fetal heartbeat can be detected, but with just days remaining in the legislative session, the bill continues to languish in House committee.

“We should have an adult discussion about this,” Skillicorn said. “We all should be interested in doing what is clearly the right thing to do.”

In Georgia, critics of Kemp’s bill like the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood are already lining up to fight it as an attempted ban on “safe, legal abortion.”