Gov. George Ryan’s veto of the bill banning use of Medicaid for abortions to ensure the health of a woman was a righteous act. The thousands of Illinois members of the National Council of Jewish Women applaud this action and offer our thanks to the governor for placing the needs of poor women above the angry, divisive and, in this case, downright mean and cruel actions of those who call themselves “pro-life.”
Clearly this bill was not about “life,” as it ignored and endangered the quality of life and health of a very small number of very poor women who do not have medical options outside of Medicaid. This was a mean-spirited piece of legislation that was pointed at pushing Gov. Ryan on this issue. We support the Governor for doing what was clearly right, rather than politically expedient.
