Illinois Supreme Court Decides Not to Hear Challenge to Taxpayer-Funded Abortion Law

The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to hear an appeal seeking to overturn a law passed last year which uses taxpayer money to fund abortions. Springfield Right to Life sued the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services in hopes of overturning House Bill 40. The 2018 law, signed by former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, allows Medicaid and state employee health insurance to pay for abortions. Springfield Right to Life challenged the law because the General Assembly did not provide a revenue estimate to cover the costs of the abortions. An appellate court dismissed the claim, arguing it was a “political question.” The plantiff then appealed to the state’s high court. The Supreme Court did not issue a reason for declining the take up the case.