State Sen. Sally Turner (R-Beason) | Courtesy photo
State Sen. Sally Turner (R-Beason) | Courtesy photo
State Sen. Sally J. Turner (R-Beason) recently took to Facebook to criticize Senate Bill 1909, which she claims unfairly targets pregnancy clinics that do not perform abortions.
“Senate Bill 1909 unfairly targets privately-funded pregnancy resource centers that do not provide abortion procedures,” she said in a graphic accompanying the post. “The Illinois Attorney General has admitted that he already has the authority under consumer protection laws to go after deceptive practices and fraud committed by both these centers as well as centers that provide abortions.”
According to the Illinois legislative website, SB 1909, sponsored by Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago), would prohibit centers that provide limited services from using deceptive practices or concealing information from a woman seeking abortion or emergency contraception. The measure also allows Attorney General Kwame Raoul to take action when a limited-service center has engaged in activities that are prohibited under the legislation.
“If he already has the authority to do this, why does he and the Majority Party need specific legislation to go after only non-abortion providing centers?” Turner said in her statement. “Unfortunately, the answer appears very simple: They want to force their own beliefs regarding abortions upon all Illinoisans and shutdown [sic] or silence anyone who disagrees.”
In a statement responding to SB 1909, Illinois Right to Life claimed supporters are trying to eliminate “choice” for women.
“Abortion advocates in the Illinois legislature demand that women have ‘choice’ – but all they’re accomplishing with this bill is eliminating women’s legitimate choices,” Illinois Right to Life Executive Director Mary Kate Zander said in a news release. “This bill is written to target pro-life pregnancy resource centers and carve out even more protections for abortion providers. It is a shameful display of politics at the expense of Illinois women.”
According to the organization’s news release, the limited-service centers across the state provide a wide range of services free of charge to women, including pregnancy tests, counseling, ultrasounds and STI testing.
The centers, according to the news release, also provide guidance for other resources, including its emergency grant program for pregnant women and mothers, known as “Project Love.”
Turner was sworn in to her 44th District seat in 2021 and serves on the Ethics and Senate Higher Education committees,
Alerts Sign-up