Illinois governor agrees to allow Medicaid for abortions

CHICAGO Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner ended months of speculation Thursday and signed legislation allowing state health insurance and Medicaid coverage for abortions, as the first-term Republican reversed his stance on the proposal from last spring.

The General Assembly controlled by Democrats approved the measure in May but delayed sending it to Rauner until Monday, in part because he has changed his mind about support of the plan.

As a candidate in 2014, Rauner said he would support expanding coverage for abortions. But last April he said he opposed the idea and said the state should focus on improving the economy.

Rauner announced his intentions to support the plan at a downtown Chicago news conference, saying he’d talked to advocates on both sides of the issue and both had good arguments. But he added that he’s always supported abortion rights and won’t change his views. He signed the bill privately.

The proposal would allow abortions funded by state employee health insurance and Medicaid. Democrats argue all women should have the same access to abortion services. Republicans argued taxpayers should not be forced to fund a morally objectionable procedure, particularly during a state budget crisis.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services estimates the annual taxpayer cost of abortions under the measure would be $1.8 million.