Illinois Senate Republicans don’t want to repeal PNA

Sens. Neil Anderson, Jil Tracy, Sue Rezin, Sally Turner, and Terri Bryant. (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois could be on the verge of enhancing its reputation as a haven for women who want to end their pregnancies.

It’s possible lawmakers will try to repeal the state’s Parental Notice of Abortion act. State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) says that makes no sense.

“To think that parents’ consent is needed to require a school teacher to give an aspirin,” Tracy – with four other Senate Republicans, all parents – said at a statehouse news conference Tuesday, “to pierce your ears, or get a tattoo, why would we think it would be a good idea to not involve a parent to be notified when a child is looking at a major medical procedure that will affect them for the rest of their lives?”

The Republicans here say they want to get out in front of the issue. Parental notification seems to be the only restriction remaining in pro-choice Illinois.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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