Republican state Rep. Andrew Chesney (Freeport) insists that his views on abortion are clear even though he has not read the particulars of the state of Georgia’s so-called “fetal heartbeat bill,” signed into law last week amid controversy around the U.S.
“I don’t want to weigh in on a bill that I haven’t read and that’s for a state I don’t live in,” Chesney told NW Illinois News. “But you can certainly say I’m a pro-life candidate and a pro-life representative who thinks we need to be taking greater steps here in Illinois to protect life.”
In Georgia, House Bill 481, also known as the Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act, would ban all abortions where a fetal heartbeat can be detected. The bill was recently signed into law by newly elected Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and applies in all instances except when giving birth would place the mother’s life in danger and in cases of rape or incest before the 20-week mark where a formal police report has been filed.
As of now, women in Georgia are allowed to have abortion procedures performed up until their 20th week of pregnancy. The new law would officially take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
Here in Illinois, Chesney’s Republican colleague Chris Miller (Oakland) recently filed a bill that would also ban abortions across the state in instances where a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Miller, who was elected in the 110th District in November, introduced the bill early in the session but now, with just days remaining, it seems unlikely that it will be called for a full vote.
In Georgia, Kemp’s proposal has run into strong opposition from the likes of the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood.
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