Personal PAC Makes Announcement On Gov. Rauner's Position On Abortion Rights
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An Illinois abortion rights political action committee has accused Governor Rauner of lying about his position on abortion - calling him "Donald Trump on steroids."
At issue is the future of Roe versus Wade - and what the now-right-leaning Supreme Court might do - and how that would affect Illinois.
As it stands now, if Roe V. Wade is overturned, Illinois law could automatically go back to banning abortion. WBBM's Steve Miller reports.
The Illinois abortion rights group Personal PAC said when Governor Rauner was a candidate for governor in 2014, he told the organization on its questionnaire that he would sign a bill that would repeal that - so abortion would still be legal here.
But Rauner has now said he would veto that bill, Illinois House Bill 40.
Personal PAC's President Terry Cosgrove said Rauner has misled people.
"I'm getting really tired of this string of misrepresentations and lies that are coming out of the Rauner administration. And I have to conclude that Governor Rauner is Donald Trump on steroids, if this continues."
HB40, besides keeping abortion legal in Illinois, would let the state cover abortions for state employees and Medicaid recipients.
An outraged Personal PAC gave reporters copies of a 2014 candidate questionnaire, where Rauner indicated he would sign legislation to have the state Medicaid plan cover abortions - and to have state employees' health insurance cover abortions.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who joined the PAC at its news conference, said it's not a tax issue, "as some have suggested.
"This is an issue of women's rights, human rights, family rights."
Cosgrove said a first-trimester abortion costs between $300 and $400. And a perfectly health delivery costs somewhere between $6,000 and $8,000.
The group Illinois Right to Life had its representatives standing right outside the Personal PAC news conference - saying Rauner is right.
WBBM asked Governor Rauner's office for a response, and we received his statement from last week: "Governor Rauner is committed to protecting women's reproductive rights under current Illinois law. However, recognizing the sharp divisions of opinion of taxpayer funding of abortion, he does not support HB40."