Courtesy of Terrence Antonio James/ Chicago Tribune

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has signed House Bill 40, a bill that will allow women covered by Medicaid and state employee insurance to qualify for taxpayer-subsidized abortions. Unable to please both pro-choice and pro-life members, Rauner has signed House Bill 40 after pledging to veto it earlier this year. Rauner had been undecided on what to do in regards to the bill and met with advocates for both sides on the issue before making his choice.

Rauner, a Republican, has caused some conservative voters to raise their eyebrows with his recent decision on House Bill 40. Seeking a second term, Rauner may face a challenger in the primary as a result of this controversial move. Members of the Illinois Republican party have begun to disavow the action taken by Rauner, with some going as far as to vocally express their disappointment in Rauner’s term as a whole.

Still, with the signing of House Bill 40, Rauner has stopped women of lower incomes from being unable to make a choice that women with higher incomes could. Though this issue is at  governmental level, certain Whitney M. Young Magnet High School students have also been affected by this result. Some students have shown support of Rauner’s decision. “Women should be able to get an abortion if they want to, even if they’re poor” says James Hernandez ‘18. Others have shown criticism on the way Rauner has handled the issue. “There is nothing in the constitution that allows you to take another life at your convenience and Rauner cracked to the wills of people who don’t agree with his party’s values” says Angel Silva ‘18.

Whether you herald Governor Rauner as a hero for approving the bill or label him a traitor of his party’s values, this issue will continue to be at the center of Illinois politics and on our country’s mind as whole.