SPRINGFIELD — Illinois House Democrats approved legislation Wednesday aimed at boosting turnout by party faithful in the Nov. 5 election by offering voters nonbinding advisory questions on securing in vitro fertilization, protecting election workers and targeting those earning $1 million a year or more with higher taxes to pay for property tax relief.
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, through his Think Big America non-profit, has provided funding to several states considering constitutional amendments to legalize abortion rights, including a donation of $500,000 to groups in Florida. Dubbed the “Assisted Reproductive Health Referendum Act,” the measure would ask voters if insurers who cover pregnancy benefits should also cover “all medically appropriate assisted reproductive treatments, including, but not limited to, in vitro fertilization” without a limit on the number of treatments.
A lot has changed since the question was asked a decade ago. Back then, it was championed by House Speaker Michael Madigan and backed by Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. Madigan has since left office and faces federal corruption charges. Quinn lost reelection in 2014. The three measures championed by Democrats would be the maximum number of referenda allowed on the November ballot, and Republican state Rep. Ryan Spain of Peoria said the Democratic issues ignore proposed GOP constitutional amendments that included redistricting reform, term limits and ethics initiatives.