Metro East Sun

Michael Babcock would have done his best to stop House Bill 40 from ever reaching Gov. Bruce Rauner, the House candidate told the West Cook News recently.

“I would have voted against the HB40 bill,” Babcock said. “I was very disappointed in the governor's decision to sign the HB40 bill that allows for taxpayer-funded abortions. I have been a pro-life advocate for over 36 years, and I believe that life truly begins at conception.”

The new law forces Medicaid and state insurance to pay for abortions for any reason until the last day of pregnancy.

Babcock is hoping to replace Rep. Daniel Beiser (D-Alton) in the 111th District, which includes Alton and Wood River in Madison County. Beiser has decided not to seek re-election.

An insurance firm owner, the Republican Babcock's campaign includes getting more school funding in his district. He said Illinois schoolchildren have been “held hostage” by a lack of educational funding while politicians push their own agendas.

He also wants to grow the state's economy and believes Rauner wants the same.

“I think the governor is seeking to bring back jobs to the State of Illinois,” Babcock said. “I believe that without true job growth in Illinois that we will never fix the economic status of our people. As this plays out, we will continue to be riddled with higher taxes that our people cannot afford. We must find a way to bring back our high-paying jobs to District 111 now, not later.”

Whether Rauner should be re-elected largely depends on what he can accomplish, Beiser said.

"It takes a strong leader to move the direction of your local government in a way that produces lower taxes there by allowing the people to spend their money in the way that best suits their family," he said.