Amid concerns about federal rollback, Cook County commissioner pitches more money for reproductive health

Amid concerns about the next presidential administration’s lack of support for abortion rights, Democratic Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen wants the county to infuse more money into access to reproductive health services.

County commissioners are set to vote on a proposed 2025 budget next week totaling nearly $10 billion. Degnen wants to amend the proposed budget to provide $2 million in grants to community organizations that provide wrap-around reproductive health services. These organizations help cover the cost of everything from hotel stays and travel to medical bills for people seeking abortions.

“The county now will come in and be a great partner, I hope, with the city and the state saying we care about women’s reproductive freedoms,” said Degnen, who is spearheading the effort alongside Democratic Commissioner Donna Miller. “We care about the decisions that you’re going to make, and we realize that there’s a lot of terror across the country from women who believe that their rights could be further eroded.”

If approved, the county health system believes it would be the first time in recent memory that funds like this are included in the county budget.

Degnen’s proposal comes as abortion rights supporters prepare for a Donald Trump presidency that could once again shake up where and how people can end a pregnancy, if they are allowed at all. Trump appointed justices to the U.S. Supreme Court that overturned Roe v Wade more than two years ago, leaving abortion access up to individual states.

That led to a patchwork of state bans and other restrictions across much of the Midwest and the South, fueling a wave of people to Illinois, where abortion rights are protected. More people are traveling to Illinois than to any other state to end a pregnancy, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion rights health policy and research organization.

Putting Cook County money toward reproductive health services grants could help organizations like the Chicago Abortion Fund, which is one of the largest of its kind in the country and is struggling to keep up with an avalanche of costs.

“I can’t even tell you how emotional I was when we found out that this effort was going on, just because of the ways that this crisis has been weighing, I think, on all of us across the country,” said Alicia Hurtado, movement building director at the Chicago Abortion Fund.

Three major national abortion funds have either cut back how much they financially support patients and providers, or have ended funding completely. So the Chicago Abortion Fund has had to pick up more of the costs and limit who they can help. This year so far, CAF has pledged to cover more than $3 million for appointment costs and nearly $2 million for wrap-around support, like child care and transportation, to help patients get to their appointments, Hurtado said.

Miller said having city, county and state governments all funding reproductive health services could empower smaller counties across the country to do the same. She hopes to continue county funding for the services for years to come.

“We can’t have this designation as the oasis if we don’t have funding to fund us being an oasis,” said Miller, a former chairwoman of the Planned Parenthood of Illinois board.

Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has been an especially outspoken supporter of abortion rights. The state has helped the Chicago Abortion Fund cover out-of-state patients’ travel and stays here, for example, and helped create a program that helps coordinate hospital-based abortions for patients with complex medical needs.

Degnen said she has support so far from 10 of the 17 commissioners on the majority Democratic county board, including her and Miller — enough to pass her proposed amendment.

Degnen emphasized that Cook County has one of the biggest public health systems in the nation, with a legacy and mission to treat people no matter if they can pay. The health system provides abortions. County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has shied away from highlighting the county’s efforts, telling WBEZ this summer that is to protect patients and providers.

But on Friday, Preckwinkle said she supports Degnen’s proposed amendment.

“Given the fact that Illinois is a refuge and a sanctuary in terms of reproductive health care in the Midwest, it’s important for our local governments to step up and be supportive of our status,” Preckwinkle said.

The county would shift $2 million from a portion of the health system’s budget that typically has money left over at the end of the year to cover the proposed grants for reproductive health services, Degnen said.

The board is set to vote on the proposed budget and any amendments on Nov. 21.

Kristen Schorsch covers public health and Cook County for WBEZ.