Fritchey brokers the Illinois Compromise: the Live Birth Abortion Bill
State Rep. John Fritchey [D-Chicago]: I am saying that this will become law…I see no reason why the Governor would not sign it… it really is historic and I don’t want to overstate it.
Jeff Berkowitz: What does it do?
State Rep. Fritchey: What it does is clearly define something that would sound simple on its face but [it defines] when an infant is born alive and when measures need to be taken to protect that child—whether that is the result of a pre-mature birth, whether it is the result of an induced birth [or an abortion that resulted in a live birth], whatever it may be.
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Jeff Berkowitz: As chairman of that [House Civil Judiciary] Committee, you deal with a lot of legal issues, one that has come up recently was the so-called “live birth abortion,” legislation. Born Alive Infant Protection Act, is that still formally the name?
Rep. John Fritchey: That is formally the name and it was interesting—I started out as a concerned opponent to the legislation. I have got to tell you it is probably the piece of legislation that I have been the proudest to be involved with right now and the reason for that is this Act, which will probably be called for a vote by the time your viewers see this show, is the first negotiated piece of legislation touching on abortion in the history of Illinois. It was assigned to my committee—
Berkowitz: The first piece of legislation that will come out—
Fritchey: The first that has been negotiated to resolution—
Berkowitz: Oh, negotiated, as opposed to by one party or the other.
Fritchey: Absolutely, and the bill was assigned to my committee. The sponsor is Brandon Phelps [D- Harrisburg, 118th Dist.], who is a Democrat from downstate. And I was able to bring together the Concerned Women of America, the Illinois Federation for Right to Life, Planned Parenthood and the ACLU, and sit them down in my office repeatedly—
Berkowitz: That will come up for a vote for sure within the next two weeks?
Fritchey: That will come up for a vote. I predict overwhelming support for it. We modified the bill—
Berkowitz: So, it will pass the House easily, you say?
Fritchey: It will pass the House easily [the Bill passed the House last week] and
Berkowitz: Will it--
Fritchey: It will pass the Senate easily.
Berkowitz: Have you spoken with state senator and President of the Senate Emil Jones?
Fritchey: Emil Jones has given his assent to the legislation.
Berkowitz: So, he is going to let it go forward in its present form?
Fritchey: He is.
Berkowitz: And he will support it?
Fritchey: Ah, I believe that indicates his support.
Berkowitz: So, you are saying that this will become law? And the Governor will sign it?
Fritchey: I am saying that this will become law…I see no reason why the Governor would not sign it… it really is historic and I don’t want to overstate it.
Berkowitz: What does it do?
Fritchey: What it does is clearly define something that would sound simple on its face but [it defines] when an infant is born alive and when measures need to be taken to protect that child—whether that is the result of a pre-mature birth, whether it is the result of an induced birth [or an abortion that resulted in a live birth], whatever it may be.
Berkowitz: When is that?
Fritchey: Well, under the terms of this, it sets forth a definition of viability and having one of a number of signs-- either voluntary movement of the limbs, a pulsating umbilical cord, a palpable heart beat and what we have said is that this is a clear definition that everybody can accept. But we want to make sure—
Berkowitz: All the Pro-Lifers can sign onto this, is that right?
Fritchey: The Pro-Lifers have signed off on this. The Pro-Choice community that I have worked with extensively has signed off on this because we have put additional language in there that really does two things. One, it says that nothing in this legislation shall impact in any way a woman’s right to choose in the State of Illinois; Nor will the legislation impact a doctor’s ability to use his or her best judgment in the treatment of a woman. And, so with those safeguards in place, it was good but it was fascinating to me Jeff that prior to this point the members of the Federation for Right to Life and the members of Planned Parenthood—folks that are polar opposites but have to deal with each other whether they want to or not—have never really sat down and had substantive discussions about legislation. So, the ability that we can pull them together is important because while Illinois is a “blue state,” the majority of Illinoisans are not on the extremes. The majority of Illinoisans are somewhere near the middle. The majority of Illinois legislators are somewhere near the middle. So, the fact that we don’t polarize each other and polarize ourselves on issues of choice, on issues of guns-- it’s healthy for the dialogue, it’s healthy for the debate, it’s healthy for legislation, it’s healthy for the state.
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State Rep. John Fritchey [D- Chicago], possible candidate in the 2006 Democratic Primary for State Treasurer, recorded on April 10, 2005 and as is airing on the Suburban Edition of Public Affairs this week [week of April 18] and on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs on Monday night, April 25 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21. See here for a detailed suburban airing schedule of “Public Affairs,” and here for more about Fritchey and a partial transcript of the show dealing with his plans for higher office.
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Jeff Berkowitz: What does it do?
State Rep. Fritchey: What it does is clearly define something that would sound simple on its face but [it defines] when an infant is born alive and when measures need to be taken to protect that child—whether that is the result of a pre-mature birth, whether it is the result of an induced birth [or an abortion that resulted in a live birth], whatever it may be.
****************************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: As chairman of that [House Civil Judiciary] Committee, you deal with a lot of legal issues, one that has come up recently was the so-called “live birth abortion,” legislation. Born Alive Infant Protection Act, is that still formally the name?
Rep. John Fritchey: That is formally the name and it was interesting—I started out as a concerned opponent to the legislation. I have got to tell you it is probably the piece of legislation that I have been the proudest to be involved with right now and the reason for that is this Act, which will probably be called for a vote by the time your viewers see this show, is the first negotiated piece of legislation touching on abortion in the history of Illinois. It was assigned to my committee—
Berkowitz: The first piece of legislation that will come out—
Fritchey: The first that has been negotiated to resolution—
Berkowitz: Oh, negotiated, as opposed to by one party or the other.
Fritchey: Absolutely, and the bill was assigned to my committee. The sponsor is Brandon Phelps [D- Harrisburg, 118th Dist.], who is a Democrat from downstate. And I was able to bring together the Concerned Women of America, the Illinois Federation for Right to Life, Planned Parenthood and the ACLU, and sit them down in my office repeatedly—
Berkowitz: That will come up for a vote for sure within the next two weeks?
Fritchey: That will come up for a vote. I predict overwhelming support for it. We modified the bill—
Berkowitz: So, it will pass the House easily, you say?
Fritchey: It will pass the House easily [the Bill passed the House last week] and
Berkowitz: Will it--
Fritchey: It will pass the Senate easily.
Berkowitz: Have you spoken with state senator and President of the Senate Emil Jones?
Fritchey: Emil Jones has given his assent to the legislation.
Berkowitz: So, he is going to let it go forward in its present form?
Fritchey: He is.
Berkowitz: And he will support it?
Fritchey: Ah, I believe that indicates his support.
Berkowitz: So, you are saying that this will become law? And the Governor will sign it?
Fritchey: I am saying that this will become law…I see no reason why the Governor would not sign it… it really is historic and I don’t want to overstate it.
Berkowitz: What does it do?
Fritchey: What it does is clearly define something that would sound simple on its face but [it defines] when an infant is born alive and when measures need to be taken to protect that child—whether that is the result of a pre-mature birth, whether it is the result of an induced birth [or an abortion that resulted in a live birth], whatever it may be.
Berkowitz: When is that?
Fritchey: Well, under the terms of this, it sets forth a definition of viability and having one of a number of signs-- either voluntary movement of the limbs, a pulsating umbilical cord, a palpable heart beat and what we have said is that this is a clear definition that everybody can accept. But we want to make sure—
Berkowitz: All the Pro-Lifers can sign onto this, is that right?
Fritchey: The Pro-Lifers have signed off on this. The Pro-Choice community that I have worked with extensively has signed off on this because we have put additional language in there that really does two things. One, it says that nothing in this legislation shall impact in any way a woman’s right to choose in the State of Illinois; Nor will the legislation impact a doctor’s ability to use his or her best judgment in the treatment of a woman. And, so with those safeguards in place, it was good but it was fascinating to me Jeff that prior to this point the members of the Federation for Right to Life and the members of Planned Parenthood—folks that are polar opposites but have to deal with each other whether they want to or not—have never really sat down and had substantive discussions about legislation. So, the ability that we can pull them together is important because while Illinois is a “blue state,” the majority of Illinoisans are not on the extremes. The majority of Illinoisans are somewhere near the middle. The majority of Illinois legislators are somewhere near the middle. So, the fact that we don’t polarize each other and polarize ourselves on issues of choice, on issues of guns-- it’s healthy for the dialogue, it’s healthy for the debate, it’s healthy for legislation, it’s healthy for the state.
***********************************
State Rep. John Fritchey [D- Chicago], possible candidate in the 2006 Democratic Primary for State Treasurer, recorded on April 10, 2005 and as is airing on the Suburban Edition of Public Affairs this week [week of April 18] and on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs on Monday night, April 25 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21. See here for a detailed suburban airing schedule of “Public Affairs,” and here for more about Fritchey and a partial transcript of the show dealing with his plans for higher office.
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