Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a controversial abortion bill Thursday that will expand public funding of abortion in Illinois to include Medicaid recipients as well as those covered under state health care plans.
The move sent shock waves through the state, drawing applause from women’s rights advocates and sparking anger among anti-abortion conservatives who accused the governor of going back on his word after announcing in 2014 that he did not support the proposed bill, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
However, Rauner said Thursday he held the same values three years ago.
"I personally am pro-choice," he said, per the Sun-Times. "I always have been and I made no qualms about that when I was elected governor."
With this in mind, the governor announced he was signing House Bill 40, stating that he was being true to his values and views.
"I have to do what I believe is right for the people of Illinois and I have to be consistent with my values," he said, according to the newspaper.
State Rep. Peter Breen, House Republican floor leader, blasted the governor, calling the signing of the bill a "breach of commitment" and a "betrayal," The Associated Press reported.
The Catholic Conference of Illinois released a statement saying it was "deeply disturbed that Governor Rauner has broken his firm public promise to veto HB 40," adding that the legislation was a "grave moral error."
Supporters of the bill sang their praise for Rauner.
"Because of this action, women in Illinois will no longer be barred from using Medicaid coverage for abortion," National Institute for Reproductive Health president Andrea Miller said, according to Politico.
"(NIRH) is proud to have supported this effort in Illinois and to be part of the growing movement to end all bans on insurance coverage of abortion."
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