Reis Seeks Release of Funds for All State School Construction Projects; Signs on to Measure Calling for Investigation of Planned Parenthood

St. Rep. David Reis (R-Willow Hill) Tuesday asked on the House floor for release from committee his measure that would release money for all school construction projects in Illinois. The move followed a Chicago Tribune article that a $35 million grant got paid in full last month that helps build a 1,500-student school building in the district of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

The funding for the school in Madigan's district had been placed last year in the budget of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

Also, Reis has signed on as a sponsor of a House Resolution that calls for an investigation into Planned Parenthood. Reis says the Resolution is in direct response to an investigative video that was recently released showing Planned Parenthood executives engaging in price-per-part negotiations for the sale of body parts and tissue from aborted fetuses.

“What we’ve seen in these videos is very disturbing,” Reis said. “It’s a shame that we have reached a point in our society where human life is so undervalued. It’s beyond reprehensible that tax payer dollars are used to provide abortion services. However, in light of the fact that Planned Parenthood receives more than half a billion dollars in federal tax dollars to perform abortions, we must get a handle on this. An investigation into Planned Parenthood is necessary to ensure that this organization is not profiting from the sale of tissue or body parts of aborted babies.”

HR 671 urges the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois Executive Inspector General, the Illinois Attorney General, and the Illinois Department of Revenue to investigate Planned Parenthood’s procedures for abortions, obtaining informed consent, and the sale or donation of human fetal tissue across the State of Illinois.