Southern Illinois News

By sponsoring anti-abortion House Bill 2384, state Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) says, he is hoping to preserve what he calls some semblance of balance on the issue in Illinois.

“Illinois is already too liberal, and in introducing this bill I want to provide some protections,” Windhorst told the Southern Illinois News. “You see where some states are now even pushing expanded abortion rights, and I feel the need to show that Illinois will not go in that direction.”

Also known as the “Illinois Anti-Infanticide Act,” HB 2384 would ban abortions after an unborn child is viable except to save the life or physical health of the mother, with the act also clearly designating pregnancy-related health issues as “serious physical impairments.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker

Windhorst said he fully understands the uphill battle he faces and took that into consideration in the way he crafted HB 2384.

“I looked at recent federal court decisions and tried to draft something that would stand up in the courts,” he said. “I’m doing all I can to try and make sure Illinois is protected.”

Windhorst concedes that becomes harder each day given what he sees as Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s agenda.

“The issue is even if we can somehow get this passed in the General Assembly, the governor has talked about how he wants Illinois to be the most pro-choice state in the country,” he said.

No matter what, Windhorst says, he has vowed to keep fighting.

“Even if it proves that we can’t get this passed, I think it’s important that we show there is still a voice to speak up for the unborn,” he said.  

Windhorst is also the chief sponsor of a bill that would repeal the HB 40 bill, which makes taxpayer-funded abortions lawful.