Illinois FOCA fizzles
Here’s another one that got away from me while I was on vacation, good news! The IL Freedom of Choice Act, which I previously discussed, failed to make it out of the IL House by the April 3 deadline, and so it sank….
Despite their best efforts, the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and even liberal newspapers like the bankrupt Chicago Sun-Times couldn’t muster enough votes. In fact, over the course of time the other side lost ground.
(Interesting, as venerable Tom Roeser noted on his blog, the liberal press uttered nary a peep after HB2354’s demise.)
Pro-lifers, led by the Catholic Conference, the Chicago Archdiocese, and the Pro-Life Action League among others, prevailed. A pro-abort blogger at Bollucks Busters lamented:
This morning, I received an email with the title “Victory in Illinois – ProLife Forces Defeat HB2354,” and my day immediately became much, much worse. This email was forwarded from a member of my (conservative, non-denominational) church, where they were all very pleased with the news and with themselves. I, on the other hand, spent 5 minutes swearing at the computer, Pro-Lifers, and the world in general, and 5 minutes frowning into space while I considered the implications of this action.
I have been so excited about… the IL “Freedom of Choice Act.” It was a wonderful bill, one that would have placed IL at the vanguard of reproductive rights. Instead, the conservative Christians in the state mustered up so much support that the bill will not be called for a vote….
![Franks_looking_left_smiling_a_bit_3-19-8[1].jpg](https://www.jillstanek.com/Franks_looking_left_smiling_a_bit_3-19-8%5B1%5D.jpg)
Pro-lifers succeeded the old-fashioned way, by making lots of political and PR noise.
Here’s an example.
After weasel Democrat state Rep. Jack Franks (pictured right, who dissed Scott and Janet Willis on the House side re: the Choose Life license plate effort while state Sen. Barack Obama dissed them on the Senate side, 1 of 2 guys with whom I engaged in a shouting match in the halls of the Capitol) signed on to co-sponsor HB2354, pro-lifers took an ad out against him and district neighbor Mark Beaubien in the local paper:
Then on March 28, according to Cal at the McHenry County Blog, a whopping 211 pro-lifers picketed Franks…
The final day HB2354 could be voted on, both Beaubien and Franks removed themselves as co-sponsors:
Pro-lifers don’t have money, and we don’t have the press. But we have the people power.
Excellent work!
[HT for Franks’ picket photos: McHenry Co. Blog (where there are more) via reader Sue S.]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Wonderful news and congratulations to all the brave pro life people who stopped this bill.
Yes! Excellent news! I think that God was definitely with these activists and has given us all something to be hopeful about. :).
That blogger says he/she’s “devastated.” Is status quo really that bad for the pro-choice crowd?
That is wonderful!!!
Excellent!
One Bright spot this year!
Awesome!!
Thanks to all pro-lifers who prayed for us in Illinois from out of state. Thanks to all of the Illinois pro-lifers who called, wrote, emailed and protested against this bill. The prolifers really came together on this and we were able to accomplish great things. My state rep. who considers herself pro-choice said she was going to vote against it (I think she was flooded with calls and did not want to hear about it anymore). She said she was sure it was not going to come up for a vote. She was right it didn’t.
I wish my cousins that live in Chicago had been at the Easter gathering yesterday, I would have thanked them since I am sure they would have helped with the DEFEAT of this horrendous bill.