South West Illinois News

Illinois State Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona) recently voiced his opposition to an Abortion Expansion Bill that was passed by the House of Representatives. 

“Illinois already has the most permissive abortion rights laws in the country. Apparently, there is no law progressive enough to satisfy the most radical elements of the Democrat party when it comes to abortion expansion," according to a joint statement released by House Republicans shared by Jacobs in a Jan. 6 Facebook post.

Titled The Patient and Provider Protection Act, Senate Bill 1534 would require that abortion care coverage include prescribed medications, and require insurance providers to cover all abortifacients, gender-affirming health care medication, human immunodeficiency virus pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis drugs. It also prohibits wrongful death lawsuits where an abortion is permitted by law and consent was given.

Jacobs has been a longtime opponent of legal abortion and in May 2022, he spoke out when the Supreme Court decision on abortion rights was leaked. 

"I am a pro-life Republican and the only physician of any kind serving in the Illinois General Assembly. I value life and worked for forty years to improve the quality of life for my patients, both young and old. I am a father and a grandfather. Life is beautiful and it must be protected," Jacobs said in a press release. "Unfortunately, left-leaning politicians currently running our government have enacted laws that make Illinois an abortion destination state where someone can have an abortion paid for by the taxpayer for any reason at any time of pregnancy up to and including birth."

In 2021, Jacobs sponsored a bill to require doctors to offer an ultrasound to individuals seeking an abortion after 8 weeks of pregnancy. Jacobs told KHQA that his bill wasn't "a knock or a hit on abortion. It's just one more chance for someone to take another look and make sure that they are making a decision that they can live with for the rest of their lives."

Paul Jacobs is a Republican state representative who resides in Pomona, according to the Illinois House. He was first elected to the Illinois House in 2020 and his legislative experience includes serving on the Tourism Committee and Higher Education.